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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-18-2011PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting May 18, 2011 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Stevenson at 7:00 p.m. May 18, 2011. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Cramblit, Meehlhause, Miller, Rundle, Schiltgen, Stevenson and Smith Absent and Excused: None Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller Index to Minutes Approval of Minutes Discuss Current City Code about Driveways and Parking Areas Discuss Procedure for Additional Use Requests in Planned Unit Development Areas 3. Approval of Minutes January 5, 2011 Page 1 2 3 MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Meehlhause. To approve the minutes of the January 5, 2011 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes — 7 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission May 18, 2011 Regular Meeting Page 2 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. 5. Planning Cases None. 6. Other Planning Activity A. Discuss Current City Code about Driveways and Parking Areas Planning Associate Heller stated that one of the most common building permits and code enforcement issues is related to driveways and parking. She reviewed the current zoning regulations for driveways and said that Mounds View is one of few cities that still allow gravel driveways. A resident can maintain their existing gravel driveway but cannot expand a gravel driveway. Several years ago the City began allowing residents to install up to 300 square feet of a gravel parking area for parking large vehicles such as campers and boats. She indicated a common complaint the City receives is about vehicles parked on the grass. Small boats and trailers can be parked off an improved surface, but all other vehicles must be on a hard surface. The City allows only one curb cut per lot. She stated staff recommends amending the City Code to add language requiring parking areas that are not adjacent to the driveway, but are accessed on a regular basis, must have a hard surface driveway that connects to the primary driveway. Planning Associate Heller stated that the Commission could consider requiring that a hard surface driveway be installed as a condition when approving conditional use permits for oversize garages. She stated that due to the large expense, and particularly with the current poor economy, the City should not require that all gravel driveways be improved. There was discussion regarding if or when to require residents to upgrade to a hard surface driveway. Chair Stevenson stated that he felt if residents can afford to build an oversize garage, they should also have a hard surface driveway. He added he feels that there should not be a requirement to install a hard surface driveway. He stated it is not allowed for residents to be driving over a curb to access a parking area. Commissioner Cramblit questioned if the City could require a hard surface driveway when a house sells. Planning Associate Heller stated that over the last few years, many property owners have been replacing or installing new driveways after their street has been reconstructed. Mounds View Planning Commission May 18, 2011 Regular Meeting Page 3 Commissioner Cramblit questioned what the process was for residents to have two curb cuts. Planning Associate Heller stated that a variance would be required to add a second curb cut. The City Council has received a few requests from property owners to keep their existing second curb cut when their street is reconstructed. She stated that if the curb cut has been in existence for many years, and the location is approved by the Public Works Department, the owner may be allowed to keep it, but is responsible for the cost of the second driveway apron. Chair Stevenson encouraged Staff to draft language that prohibits residents from driving over the curbs. Commissioner Smith questioned if the resident would receive a citation for violating the code. Planning Associate Heller confirmed that the resident would receive a citation, but that City Staff tries to get compliance before issuing the citation. B. Discuss Procedure for Additional Use Requests in Planned Unit Development Areas Planning Associate Heller stated there are several properties within Mounds View that are zoned PUD. She stated the more recent PUD developments include a PUD Agreement that spells out the specific uses and details related to that PUD, but the older PUD sites don't have these written documents. She indicated that staff has received a planning request to allow a recreational use in one of the older PUD developments that doesn't have the PUD agreement. She stated the Planning Commission will review the PUD amendment and the resolution will be the documentation instead of the PUD agreement. She indicated that since there are very few requests for PUD amendments, staff wanted to go through this process prior to the next Planning Commission meeting. Chair Stevenson stated along with the amendment to the PUD, there also may be a need to change the Comprehensive Plan. Planning Associate Heller stated she would check on what the land use language is in the Comprehensive Plan for the Mounds View Business Park South. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. June 1, 2011 B. June 15, 2011 Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session May 18, 2011 Page 4 There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Respectfully submitted, James Ericson City Administrator Transcribed by: Barbara Suciu TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.