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Mounds View Planning Commission October 18, 2006 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Chair Stevenson asked Community Development Director Ericson to explain the 15-foot height <br />limitation in the code. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Ericson explained the height is measured from the top of the <br />side wall to the midpoint of the truss, which does allow the garage to exceed 15 feet to the peak. <br />He stated the intent was to allow for matching the roof pitch of the home and carry it to the <br />garage. <br /> <br />Chair Stevenson asked how many detached garages in Mounds View are higher than the house. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Ericson replied there might be a dozen or more but that it is <br />not commonplace. <br /> <br />Commissioner Hegland stated the ones he has seen try to match the pitch on the house roof. He <br />stated many houses in Mounds View have a steep roof pitch. <br /> <br />Chair Stevenson asked if limiting the height of detached garages to the height of house would be <br />a limiting factor or problematic. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Ericson replied it could be a problem if the home is a <br />rambler, as it might not give taller vehicles suitable clearance. He stated many of the older <br />homes with the higher peaks are generally the ones requesting the garages. <br /> <br />Chair Stevenson asked if the problem is when the garage is higher than the house. <br /> <br />Commissioner Scotch remarked she thinks it is the size more than the height. She clarified the <br />unknown is often what the accessory building would be used for. She indicated many of the <br />garages have been for sizes larger than the house. <br /> <br />Commissioner Hegland stated there have not been many complaints nor has the Planning <br />Commission granted many variances. He stated he does not see a problem. <br /> <br />Chair Stevenson stated most of the complaints have been that the structure of the accessory <br />building looks out of place from the house. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Ericson reiterated there have not been very many complaints <br />outside from the one neighborhood. <br /> <br />Commissioner Scotch commented she did not think there was a problem. <br /> <br />Commissioner Hegland remarked the current code is in line with adjoining communities and it <br />serves the needs of Mounds View. He stated Mounds View has an established set of codes that <br />are simple to enforce and meet the needs of the community. Commissioner Hegland stated he is <br />afraid the more the Planning Commission restricts people, the more difficult it becomes for <br />residents to improve their property.