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Mounds View Planning Commission September 1, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ Community Development Director Ericson stated the City would like to obtain a sit down restaurant, coffee shop, etc. and the City’s Economic Development Coordinator was actively pursuing these types of businesses. However, most businesses were concerned that the City was stuck between two commercial areas, i.e. Roseville and Northtown. He stated staff would continue to work on this and it was an important issue. Ms. Cox asked if the City had any financial assistance for businesses to come into the City. Community Development Director Ericson replied the City did have financial assistance available and they made those incentives known to the business owners. He noted however the initial concern was not the start-up cost, but instead the concern was the long-term costs to maintain the business. ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Case VR2004-008, Phyllis Melsaether Public Hearing and Discussion Regarding a Variance Request for a Non-Conforming Curb Cut at 7566 Silver Lake Road Planner Prososki indicated that the applicant, Phyllis Melsaether, is requesting a variance to allow an already constructed driveway to remain as built at her property located at 7566/7568 Silver Lake Road. The driveway was constructed without a permit and exceeds the maximum curb cut width allowed in an R-2 district. The property has a two-family dwelling with separated garages. Mounds View Zoning Code requires that two-family dwellings with separated garage each have their own driveway with a curb cut not to exceed 20 feet or the width of the garage, whichever is greater, at the right-of-way. The driveway, as constructed, has two, 16 foot driveways, with a turn around constructed at the curb cut, which connects the two driveways. The curb cut is currently 65 feet wide. The variance is for 25 feet (the total curb cut of 65 feet minus the two, twenty-foot wide curb cuts). Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. Chair Stevenson asked what was the date of construction of the 65 foot curb-cut. Planner Prososki replied she believed it was September, 2002. Chair Stevenson noted in reading the considerations for a variance, they need to meet the hardships and the hardship this property experienced was traffic. However, he did not see anything else to justify this variance. He asked if anyone else on the Commission felt differently. Commissioner Hegland stated there appeared to be room to do a turnaround without this large of a curb-cut. Planner Prososki replied they could have a turn around farther up the driveway.