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Item No: ___05A <br /> Meeting Date: Aug 7, 2019 <br />Type of Business: Planning Case VR2019 -003 <br /> <br /> <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br />To: Mounds View Planning Commission <br />From: Jon Sevald, Community Development Director <br />Item Title/Subject: Public Hearing, Resolution 1105-19, Approval of a <br />Variance to allow a Second Driveway at 2809 Bronson <br />Drive (Planning Case VR2019-003) <br /> <br />Introduction <br />The Applicants, Jason and Deborah Lanz, own the property at 2809 Bronson Drive, consisting <br />of a single-family home and detached garage. Mr. Lanze proposes to build a second garage <br />and driveway, requiring a Variance for the second driveway. The intent of keeping the first <br />driveway is to allow a family member with mobility challenges to park close to the door. <br /> <br />A 2/3’s majority vote (5 of 7) is required to approve a Variance.1 The Planning Commission held <br />a Public Hearing on this item on July 17th. After a 4-2 vote to Approve the Variance Failed, the <br />Planning Commission tabled this item to allow an opportunity for the full Commission to <br />comment. <br /> <br /> <br />Discussion <br />Any garage, if to be used to store frequently-used vehicles, must be served by an improved <br />driveway.2 Single-Family homes are allowed one driveway per property, unless a Variance is <br />approved “in the interest of public safety.”3 <br /> <br />The existing garage is 20’ X 20’ (400 sq ft). The proposed second garage is 26’ X 36’ (936 sq <br />ft), for a combined 1,336 sq ft. The City Code allows up to three Accessory Buildings with a <br />combined 1,800 sq ft. The maximum size of any one Accessory Buillding, is 952 sq ft, unless a <br />Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is approved.4 The proposed garage is within size limits. <br /> <br />One alternative to a Variance is to locate the new garage elsewhere on the lot (e.g. backyard) <br />such that it is accessible by the existing driveway, or to replace or expand the existing garage. <br /> <br />A second alternative is to approve the Variance under a condition that the existing (west) <br />driveway be removed when no longer necessary, e.g. when its use does not meet the criteria of <br />“in the interest of public safety.” This would be difficult to enforce. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />1 City Code, Section 1125.02, Subd 1(b) (Organization and Meetings) <br />2 City Code, Section 1106.03, Subd 1(h) (Accessory Buildings). Section 1121.09, subd 7(a) (Surfacing) <br />3 City Code, Section 1121.09, Subd 5(e) (Curb Cuts and Driveway Openings) <br />4 City Code, Section 1106.04, Subd 6 (Accessory Building exceeding 952 sq ft)