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Mounds View City Council December 13, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 14 Planning Associate Ericson stated the first significant change is that driveway widths have been removed from their currently obscure hiding place within the setback section of 1104.01, Subd. • 4, and added to Section 1121.09, Subd. 1, "Dimensions" in a table. He indicated that The table format is a new addition since Planning Commission forwarded this ordinance for Council review-staff realized that in making the change to the R-1 district alone, driveway widths in other residential districts had become undefined. Planning Associate Ericson stated the ordinance creates a distinction between zero-lot line subdivisions (separately owned side-by-side-twin homes) and duplexes, both of which are zoned R-2. He advised that the Code currently allows properties in an R-2 district to have a 35-foot wide driveway, however, because zero-lot line properties (such as the new twinhomes on Silver Lake Road) are individual 50-foot wide parcels, the result could be 70 feet of driveway within 100 feet of the lot. He stated staff and the Planning Commission are confident that this was not the intent of this provision when the Code was drafted. Planning Associate Ericson stated the ordinance allows for wider driveways in an R-1 district, increasing the maximum width from 35 feet to 3S feet or the width of the garage plus an additional 12 feet. After much discussion, the Commission concluded that the 35-foot limitation was too restrictive, especially for properties having wide three-car garages-the driveway could not be as wide as the garage. This will resolve that, yet will also open the door for more cars on a property and additional impervious surface. He explained that while both are legitimate concerns, the Commission believed the benefits of the change outweighed the potential environmental consequences and risk of abuse. Planning Associate Encson stated it is possible that one other change could be made to the ordinance, pertaining to Subdivision 4 of Section 1121.09, regarding angled parking dimensions. Staff has become aware that the dimensions may be inaccurate, and do not take into consideration other possible stall configurations. He indicated that staff will research this issue, and if a change is necessary, will come back before the Council at their next meeting with a revised angled parking dimension and graphic. He stated staff recommends the Council introduce the first reading, and schedule the second reading of Ordinance 642. There was no public input. Mayor Coughlin closed the Public Hearing at 8:06 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Marty/Stigney. To Waive the Reading and Approve the First Reading of Ordinance 642, an Ordinance Amending Title 1100, Chapters 1104, 1007, and 1121 of the Mounds View Municipal Code Pertaining to Driveways and Curb Cuts; Special Planning Case No. SP-074-99. Council Member Marty stated he had spoken with Planning Associate Ericson regarding a correction to the ordinance. He explained that in order to be consistent with the curb cut widths listed on Page 4, the graph on Page 6, relating to zero lot line subdivisions, should be amended to indicate 20 feet, rather than 18 feet. Planning Associate Ericson stated this change would be made prior to the second reading of the ordinance.