Discuss Ordinance Amending Sections 117-111, 117-349, and 117-355 of the City Code Creating Additional Requirements for Driveways and Parking Pads.

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to receive direction from City Council prior to Staff's introduction of the ordinance at a future City Council regular meeting.  

Background: 
The Planning Commission requested that the City revise their parking pad and driveway ordinance. Attached is a draft ordinance that creates additional requirements for driveways and parking pads within the City of Ramsey for single-family residential properties. The City currently regulates driveway standards in regard to the 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.

The proposed ordinance would regulate additional driveway space and parking pads by limiting driveway widths to 15 foot expansions outward from the garage; allowing parking pads on properties 2.5 acres or larger without a size regulation and allowing parking pads on parcels less than 2.5 acres in size with a maximum pad size of 500 square feet; variances allowed to any proposed expansion outside of City Code; and adjacent, same-ownership, properties will be considered one property for driveway/parking pad additions and expansions. Ordinance #21-15 has been forwarded to the City Attorney, but no comments have been received as of the time of writing this case. 

Planning Commission Meetings
June Regular Meeting
During their regular meeting on June 3, 2021, the Planning Commission requested an ordinance update to create additional requirements for parking pads and limitations to driveway widths in residential districts. The Commission stated they would like to see limited widths 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. 

July Regular Meeting
Proposed changes as recommended by the Planning Commission at their regular meeting on July 22, 2021 include:

• Variance information to exceed standards set in the ordinance
• Limiting driveway widths to 15 foot expansions outward from the garage
• Graphic be included in the attachments to demonstrate proposed ordinance restrictions on driveways and parking pads

September Regular Meeting
During their regular meeting on September 23, 2021, the Planning Commission recommended the following changes be made to the proposed ordinance. First, change the size limitation of parking pads based on acreage and not the number of vehicles permitted by City Code. Second, change the proposed ordinance to allow parking pads of no more than 500 square feet on properties less than 2.5 acres in size. There would not be a size requirement for properties 2.5 acres or larger.

October Work Session
During their October 28, 2021 work session, the Planning Commission requested the following revisions: clarification of the 15' side yard width requirement - including drawings representing this and research into Item E regarding what types of vehicles are considered for the item count (i.e. motor vehicles, boats, go-carts, motorbikes, fish houses, etc.). Staff have made the requested changes in the attachments.

November Regular Meeting
The Planning Commission recommended introduction of the ordinance by the City Council at their regular meeting in November, based on comments at the October Work Session.

Meeting minutes have been attached to this case for review.

Staff anticipates 15 minutes will be needed to present this case and respond to questions.  

Staff is handling this case as part of their regular duties.

Grady Timmerman - Planning Intern
Brian McCann - Planning Technician
Chloe McGuire Brigl - Senior Planner

Direct City Staff to introduce the Ordinance at a future City Council regular meeting with/without revisions.