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Mounds View Planning Commission October 7, 2015 <br />Regular Meeting Page 3 <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Schiltgen/Commissioner Rundle. To approve Resolution <br />1036-15, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Variance to allow a Five-Foot Side Yard <br />Setback for Living Space and Allow an Addition and Garage to Match the Existing House 19.8 <br />Front Foot Setback at 2474 County Road H2; Planning Case No. VR2015-008. <br /> <br /> Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />6. Other Planning Activity <br /> <br />A. Discuss Proposed Code Amendment to Allow Fences Taller Than 4-Feet in <br />Front Yards of Corner Lots <br /> <br />Planning Associate Heller informed the Commission that at the September 2, 2015 Planning <br />Commission meeting, the Commission discussed allowing 6-foot or 8-foot fences in the second <br />front yard of corner lots. The Zoning Code currently allows fences up to 4-feet tall in any part of <br />a property. Fences that are taller than 4-feet are only allowed behind the front line of the house <br />(the Zoning Code allows fences up to 8-feet tall). Properties that are on corners have two front <br />yards and therefore are limited in where they can put a taller fence. Property owners want the <br />taller fences for privacy and safety, and the Planning Commission has been very understanding <br />of this and approved every fence height variance request. Commissioners have suggested that the <br />zoning code should be amended to allow for these taller fences since there have been several <br />variance requests for taller fences and they are always approved. <br /> <br />Associate Heller explained the Planning Commission agreed that it’s time to amend the zoning <br />code to allow for over 4-foot tall fences on corner lots. <br /> <br />The Commission suggested allowing up to a 6-foot fence in the second front yard of a corner lot <br />with at least a 1-foot setback on the street frontage side. A fence taller than six feet on a corner <br />lot would still need to go through the variance process. <br /> <br />Staff reviewed the proposed code amendment further and requested feedback from the <br />Commission. <br /> <br />Commissioner Schiltgen questioned how tall hedges would be handled by the City. <br /> <br />Associate Heller explained that staff regularly drives around the City and when hedges were too <br />high at intersections, property owners were asked to trim them down to improve visibility at <br />intersections. <br /> <br />Commissioner Love asked how residents would able to locate their property line. <br /> <br />Associate Heller stated City staff assist as much as possible with this and can give homeowners <br />their property dimensions. She stated if the homeowner could not find the property marker pins <br />on their own, a surveyor would need to be hired.