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Item No: ___5B Meeting Date: Nov 7, 2018 Type of Business: Planning Case AV2018-001 City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Mounds View Planning Commission From: Jon Sevald, Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: Resolution 1088-18, Review of an Administrative Variance to exceed driveway width for Edgewood Middle School Introduction The Mounds View School District has proposed additions onto Edgewood Middle School, located at 5100 Edgewood Dr, to include an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, classrooms, and science lab. Additionally, the east parking lot and driveway (bus entrance) will be replaced. The applicant is requesting an Administrative Variance to exceed the maximum driveway width permitted. Discussion Currently, the school bus loading area is in the west parking lot in front of the school. The parent pick-up & drop-off area is in front of the school on Edgewood Drive, contributing to traffic congestion. The school district proposes to move the bus loading area to the east side (rear) of the school, and reconstructing the east parking lot and driveway accessing onto Co Rd H. The school is requesting a 38’ wide driveway curb-cut on Co Rd H, whereas the maximum permitted is 32’.1 The wider driveway is to accommodate three lanes of traffic (one in and two out). Analysis An Administrative Variance may be preliminarily approved by the Community Development Director, if the request meets the criteria for granting a variance; is within an R-1 or R-2 zoning district; and either; (1) concerns a setback that is within 25% of code requirements and does not result in a setback of less than 5’; or, is related to a pre-existing, non-conforming driveway or curb cut.2 The existing driveway is pre-existing, and non-conforming due to its lack of curbing, in addition to not meeting design standards for its planned intensive use by busses. The process of affirming approval of an Administrative Variance is very similar to the process of approving a normal Variance, with the exception that a Public Hearing is not required. It is required to notify the adjacent property owners. That said, all property owners within 350’ of the subject property were notified, in conjunction with the mailing of a Public Hearing notice for the Variance request (parking lot setback) 1 City Code, Section 1121.09, Subd 5(b) (Public Parks & Preservation Areas) 2 City Code, Section 1125.02, Subd 6 (Administrative Variance Procedures)