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Mounds View Planning Commission May 18, 2011 <br />Regular Meeting Page 2 <br />____________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda <br /> <br />None. <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />5. Planning Cases <br /> <br />None. <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />6. Other Planning Activity <br /> <br />A. Discuss Current City Code about Driveways and Parking Areas <br /> <br />Planning Associate Heller stated that one of the most common building permits and code <br />enforcement issues is related to driveways and parking. She reviewed the current zoning <br />regulations for driveways and said that Mounds View is one of few cities that still allow gravel <br />driveways. Resident can maintain their existing gravel driveway but cannot expand a gravel <br />driveway. Although several years ago the City began allowing residents to install up to 300 <br />square feet of a gravel parking area for parking large vehicles such as campers and boats. She <br />indicated a common complaint the City receives is about vehicles parked in the grass. Small <br />boats and trailers can be parked off an improved surface, but all other vehicles must be on a hard <br />surface. The City only allows one curb cut per lot. She stated staff recommends amending the <br />City Code to add language requiring parking areas that not adjacent to the driveway, but are <br />accessed on a regular basis, must have a hard surface driveway that connects to the primary <br />driveway. <br /> <br />Planning Associate Heller stated that the Commission could consider requiring that a hard <br />surface driveway be installed as a condition when approving conditional use permits for oversize <br />garages. She stated that due to the large expense, and particularly with the current poor <br />economy, the City should not require that all gravel driveways be improved. <br /> <br />There was discussion regarding if or when to require residents to upgrade to a hard surface <br />driveway. <br /> <br />Chair Stevenson stated that he felt if residents can afford to build an oversize garage, they should <br />also have a hard surface driveway. He added he feels that there should not be a requirement to <br />install a hard surface driveway. He stated it is not allowed for residents to be driving over a curb <br />to access a parking area. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cramblit questioned if the City could require a hard surface driveway when a <br />house sells. <br /> <br />Planning Associate Heller stated that over the last few years, many property owners have been <br />replacing or installing new driveways after their street has been reconstructed.