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Item No: 6A Meeting Date: May 18, 2011 Type of Business: Discussion City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Planning Commission From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Discussion about Driveways and Parking Areas in Single-Family Residential Areas Introduction: Permits for replacement driveways or driveway expansions are one of the common permits issued every year, and parking off an improved surface is one of the most common code enforcement problems. City staff was discussing some of the specific parking problems that occur and decided to talk to the Planning Commission about what the current regulations are for driveways and parking areas, and if any changes are recommended. Discussion: Many properties in Mounds View have narrow driveways and/or more than two vehicles. The City receives many complaints about and finds many vehicles parked off the driveway in the grass. After repeated driving over the same grass area, eventually it turns into a dirt patch and is not attractive. Several years ago, the City decided to allow up to 300 square feet of gravel parking areas as a more affordable option for homeowners to expand their driveways or add additional parking in the side or back yard. Most cities have driveway width and setback regulations, even if they do not require a permit for one. The most common side setback requirement is five feet. No cities require more than five feet (other than in a very low density residential district) and only a couple cities allow less than that. The Mounds View City Code currently regulates driveways and parking areas with these restrictions: • Driveway curb cuts (the opening at the street) may not be more than 24 feet wide • Driveways may be the width of the garage plus 12 feet, or 35 feet wide, whichever is greater • Driveways must have a hard surface - asphalt, concrete, pavers • Up to 300 square feet of gravel may be used as a parking area • Driveways and parking areas must have a side yard setback of at least 5 feet • If an accessory building is to be utilized for the storage of frequently used vehicles, it shall be serviced by an improved driveway (1106.03 subd. 1h) • All vehicles must be parked on a hard surface (exception: trailers with weight classifications of A or B (0-3,000 pounds) may be parked on the grass) • All new construction homes must install a hard surface driveway. Existing gravel driveways can be maintained, but not expanded in size. • Single-family properties are allowed to have 1 curb cut. Over the years, some property owners have created a second curb cut. The second curb cuts are being eliminated when the street is reconstructed unless it can be shown that the second access has been in place for many years.