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Mounds View Planning Commission April 3, 2002 <br />Regular Meeting Page 2 <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />4. Approval of Minutes <br /> <br />a. March 6, 2002 <br /> <br />MOTION/SECOND: Scotch/Zwirn. To Approve the Minutes for March 6, 2002, as Presented. <br /> <br /> Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />5. Planning Case VR02-001 <br /> <br />Planner Atkinson explained that this case is a request for a variance from the minimum parking <br />requirements for a 20 unit housing facility. City Code requires 1 ½ spaces per unit plus one <br />garage stall per unit for a total of 50 spaces, 20 of those being garage stalls. He then explained <br />that the applicant is proposing to leave off the 20 garage stalls because this is a nontraditional <br />type of housing for handicapped residents and most do not drive and have no need for a garage <br />because it is impractical. <br /> <br />Planner Atkinson indicated that based on the previous experience of the applicant at similar <br />developments it has been determined that 30 stalls should be more than adequate for the facility. <br />He also noted that it is likely that only four or five of the residents living at the facility would <br />own an automobile. <br /> <br />Planner Atkinson referred to the criteria that must be met to grant a variance. He then said that <br />Staff feels that based on the shape of the lot and the fact it has road frontage on three sides would <br />make it difficult to place the garages on the site. <br /> <br />Planner Atkinson indicated he had placed letters from residents who were opposed to the <br />development on the dais and then explained he had spoken to several residents to explain the <br />development and what the applicant was requesting. He then commented that residents were <br />more comfortable with the development after hearing the explanation and learning that this <br />development is different than the one that was proposed for that site three years ago. <br /> <br />Mr. Atkinson indicated he had spoken to another resident who, after hearing the explanation, was <br />still opposed to the parking variance because they were afraid of overflow parking out into the <br />residential neighborhood. <br /> <br />Acting Chair Miller announced to the viewers at home that there was only audio available for the <br />meeting and apologized for the technical difficulties. <br /> <br />Commissioner Zwirn asked if there were other ways to locate the building on the property to <br />accommodate the garage space. <br /> <br />Planner Atkinson indicated that the applicant had explored other options for locating the building <br />but had determined that residents were more in favor of locating the parking behind the building.