Consider Ordinance #21-15 Creating Additional Requirements for Driveways and Parking Pads

A proposed ordinance to regulate additional driveway space, and parking pads in the City of Ramsey. The City currently regulates driveway standards in regards to type of material, width at street, and distance from neighboring property lines. Additional driveway and parking pad requirements would help City staff and residents with future impervious surface expansions.

Notification is not required at this time. A notice will be advertised in the Anoka County Union-Herald when it is introduced to the City Council.

Summary:
At the June Planning Commission regular meeting, the Planning Commission had requested an ordinance update to create more requirements for parking pads and width of driveways in residential districts. The Commission had stated they would like to see a limited width for driveways, a limited number of parking pads per property, and a way to ensure the parking capacity isn't expanded as set in City Code Section 117-355 - Residential Development Off-Street Parking. Planning Staff members have drafted Ordinance #21-15 for review by the Planning Commission to determine if it would meet their proposed requirements, and be sent to the City Council for formal adoption.

Planning Commission Meetings
Proposed changes as recommended by the Planning Commission include:

• Variance information to exceed standards set in the ordinance
• Driveways: 15 foot extension requirement for the side yard of a primary garage exclusively
• Graphic included in the attachments to demonstrate proposed ordinance restrictions on driveways and parking pads
• Parking pad requirements for lots under 2.5 acres, no requirements for lots 2.5 acres or larger
• Lot coverage/impervious surface coverage of surrounding cities

Staff have also included regulations from surrounding cities - although many surrounding cities did not have any additional standards for parking pads, just for driveways. Impervious surface and lot coverage requirements have been added to the final page at the request of the Planning Commission at their regular meeting in September. All requested changes have been reflected in the proposed Ordinance.

Alternatives:
Alternative 1: Recommend adoption of Ordinance #21-15 to the City Council. Staff supports this alternative.
Alternative 2: Recommend additional changes be made to Ordinance #21-15, and an updated draft be presented to the Planning Commission at their next regular meeting. Staff also supports this alternative.
Alternative 3: Recommend denial of Ordinance #21-15 to the City Council. Staff does not support this alternative.

This case is being handled as part of Staff's regular duties.

Staff recommends forwarding Ordinance #21-15 to the City Council for introduction and adoption.

Motion to recommend City Council introduce and adopt Ordinance #21-15.