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Memo-Discussion On Regulating Cars And Accesory Buildings . MEMO To: City Council and Zoning and Planning Commission From: Nancy Anderson Date: November 21,2000 Subject: Discussion on regulating cars and accessory buildings I. INTRODUCTION. There have been some concerns regarding the number of cars parked on lots, where they are parked, and also the number of accessory buildings allowed on the lot. The Planning Commission has discussed this subject in September and October. The Commission also reviewed the video and has seen the pictures taken by the previous housing inspector. . II. EXISTING ZONING ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS. Parking cars Section 550.01 Subd. 3 Yards Parking areas shall be subject to front yard setback requirements in accordance with the district in which such parking areas are located. Cars or other vehicles can park behind the front yard setback and in the side and rear yards. There is no limit on the amount of cars. Parking of boats. trailers. RVs etc. Section 530.11 i) The storage outside of a building but not on a parking space which was included to meet the minimum standards of this code, one building for winter ice fishing or one boat or one trailer or one camper or one mobile home provided none of the above mentioned items are over 18 feet in length. Said storage shall not be in the front yard. The existing ordinance allows one recreational type vehicle on a lot. Accessory buildings Section 520.07 Subd. 3. Area. Accessory buildings to a residential structure may not exceed an . aggregate area of 528 square feet per dwelling unit in the R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-6 districts. The following are the maximum percentages of lot area that can be used for accessory buildings in each district: R-I-A - 12%; R-I-B -10%; R-I-C - 8%; R-I-D - 6%; R-I-E - 6%. - . The above size requirements seem to work well for most cases. There is no limit on the number of accessory buildings, just a limit on size. III. EXISTING CITY CODE REQUIREMENTS. 1325.03 Parking or storage for Repair. or Maintenance of Bus. Camper. Truck. Tractor. Semi- Trailer. Racing or Junk Cars or other Vehicles on Public and Private Property. No person shall cause or permit the parking, keeping or storage for more than two hours of any bus, camper, truck, tractor, semi-trailer, racing or junk cars or other similar vehicles for the purpose of repair, replacement or exchange of parts or any other maintenance work thereon, in or on any public street, alley, road, highway, parking lot, park or other public property or premises in or on any private lands or premises unless such vehicles on any such private lands be within and enclosed building. Accessory buildings are not addressed in the City Code III. OTHER CITIES ORDINANCES. FRIDLEY . The required parking stall shall not be located in any portion of the required front yard, except on a driveway or hardsufaced parking space approved by the City, and setback a minimum of three (3) feet from the side property line, except as agreed to by adjacent property owners. No outside parking or storage of motor vehicles shall occur except on approved hardsurface driveways and parking stalls. EXCELSIOR Vehicles - Any use in and "R" (residential) zoning district shall be so operated and maintained so as not to permit, within any front yard, rear yard, or side yard required under this ordinance, or elsewhere unless entirely within an enclosed structure, the following: Except as specifically permitted in Section 1075 of this ordinance, the parking, storage, or repair, including major auto repair, minor auto repair, and auto restoration, of any motor vehicle, whether pared or stored on the ground, on or in a trailer or any other conveyance device unless the same is fully enclosed, or otherwise parked or stored. Auto maintenance shall be permitted only to a motor vehicle that is owned or regularly driven by, or leased, rented, or licensed to, an owner or occupant ofthe use. . - ---- -- . MINNETONKA The outside parking and storage on residentially-zoned property of large numbers of vehicles and vehicles, materials, supplies or equipment not customarily used for residential purposed in violation of the requirements set forth below is declared to be a public nuisance because it (a) obstructs views on streets and private property, (b) creates cluttered and otherwise unsightly areas. (c) prevents the full use of residential streets for residential parking, (d) introduces commercial advertising signs into areas where commercial advertising sings are otherwise prohibited, (e) decreases adjoining landowners and occupants' enjoyment of their property and neighborhood, and (f) otherwise adversely affects property values and neighborhood patterns. Unlawful Parking and Storage. c. No person shall cause, undertake, permit or allow the outside parking and storage of vehicles on residentially-zoned unless it complies with the following requirements: i. No more than four vehicles per lawful dwelling unit may be parked or stored anywhere on R-l and R-2 zoned property, except as other wise permitted or required by the City because of non-residential characteristics of the property. This maximum number does not include vehicles of occasional guests who do not reside on the property. 11. Vehicles which are parked or stored outside in the front-yard area must be on a paved or . graveled parking or driveway area. Hi. All vehicles, watercraft and other articles stored outside on residential property must be owned by a person who resides on that property. Students who are away at school for periods of time but still claim the property as their legal residence shall be considered residents on the property. NEW HOPE Use of Parking Facilities: Off-street parking facilities accessory to residential uses shall be utilized solely for the parking passenger automobiles and/or one truck not to exceed nine thousand (9,000) pounds gross capacity for each dwelling unit. Under no circumstances shall required parking facilities accessory to residential structures be used for the storage of commercial vehicles or for the parking of automobiles belonging to the employees, owners, tenants or customers of nearby business or manufacturing establishments. Use of Parking Areas: Required off-street parking space in all districts shall not be used for open storage of goods (such as boats, camp trailers, winger fish houses, semi-trailers; construction equipment, or other such items) or for the storage of vehicles which are inoperable or for sale or for rent. . . IV. STAFF SUGGESTED CHANGES. Vehicles . A maximum of three vehicles parked or stored outside. . A household having more than three licensed drivers may have up to five vehicles parked outside of the garage. Only one vehicle per licensed driver is allowed. Additional vehicles must be parked in the garage. . Parking must be on hard surfaces or gravel areas. . One vehicle may be parked on the garage side yard on a residentially zoned lot provided the vehicle is five feet or more from the property line. . No parking of cars in the rear yard, but one vehicle can be parked next to a garage on an improved parking space in the rear yard. . Allowed to park one non-passenger vehicle on a residential lot. . . One recreational vehicle over 22 feet in length maybe parked in back yard, no closer than five feet to any lot line- screening is required. . One recreational vehicle under 22 feet in length, may be parked in back yard, no closer than five feet to any lot line - no screening is required. . No non-passenger vehicle can be parked on a residential lot if the vehicle is not owned or leased by the occupant of the premises where it is parked or is a commercial vehicle owned by the employer of an occupant who is using the vehicle for business purposes. . The total area in the front yard of a single-family lot improved for parking and driveway purposes shall not exceed 30 percent of the front yard area. . The average width of a driveway shall not be more than 24 feet wide. . Commercial Vehicles that exceed eight feet in height and 22 feet in length or 6,500 pounds (empty weight) are prohibited to be stored in residential areas. . Commercial vehicles that are a maximum of eight feet in height and 22 feet in length or 6,500 pounds (empty weight) are allowed in the back yard or portion of the driveway not in the front yard. . . Any vehicle designed for racing and any vehicle that is not street operable must be parked in a garage. These vehicles cannot be parked in any yard, driveway, or residential street. ----------- ----- . . Fish houses may be stored on a residential lot with the following provisions: 1. All fish houses must have the name address or driver's license number of an owner legibly painted on the exterior with characters at least three inches high. 2. Licensed as per Minnesota Statutes. 3. Moved on a lake for the winter season as per Minnesota Statutes. 4. The maximum size is OOxOO. 5. Shall not be stored in the front yard. Accessorv Buildines One garage and one storage building allowed on a lot. Size regulated by existing ordinance. NEW DEFINITIONS Commercial Vehicles. A motor vehicle is a commercial vehicle if: . 1. The vehicle is a dump truck, a step van, a tow truck, a semi tractor or trailer, a tank: truck, a tractor, a bus, a cargo truck, a construction vehicle or equipment, an earth moving vehicle or equipment, van or pickup with a manufacturer's nominal rated carrying capacity of more than one ton, or any other vehicle which is used in connection with commercial activities; 2. Commercial equipment has been added to the vehicle such as winches or snow plows; 3. Commercial racks have been added to the vehicle for the purpose of holding equipment or materials; 4. The vehicle is a pickup with a non-standard pickup box; or 5. The vehicle is a trailer loaded with another commercial vehicle or commercial equipment. Driveway. An improved access which connects an off-street parking space to the public right of way. Ice Fish House. A shelter on ice for the catching of fish. A fish house may also be referred to as a dark house. Junk Vehicle means any motor vehicle that (1) is extensively damaged, with the damage including such things as broken or missing wheels, motor, drive train, or transmission; (2) is . apparently inoperable; (3) does not have a valid, current registration plate; or (4) has an approximate fair market value equal to the approximate value of the scrap in it. -. - ---- - ---------- . Motor Vehicle. Every vehicle which is self propelled. This does not include lawn mowers or snowblowers. Non-passenger Vehicle. A commercial or recreational vehicle or trailer. Parking Space. An improved paved or gravel area on a lot or within a building intended for parking of a motor vehicle which has a means of access to a public street. This term is used interchangeably with parking stall and parking facility. Passenger Vehicle. An automobile, station wagon, van, sports utility vehicle, minivan, pickup truck, or motor cycle designed and primarily intended for on-street operation. Passenger vehicles do not include commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, racing cars or stock cars. Trailer. Any vehicle designed for carrying property on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle. Trailer bed. That portion of a trailer that is designed to make contact with and bear the weight of the load to be carried. Racing Car. A motor vehicle designed or intended for operation on a speedway, racetrack, or other facility used or designed for high speed contests between two (2) or more vehicles or for . timing of speed. Recreational Vehicle 1. Travel trailers including those that telescope or fold down, chassis mounted campers, house cars. Motor homes, tent trailers, slip in campers and converted vans that are motor homes as defined herein. 2. Motor Home. A vehicle that provides temporary living quarters. A vehicles provides temporary living quarters if it (a) is not used as the residence of the owner or occupant; (b) is used for temporary living quarters by the owner or occupant while engaged in recreation or vacation activities; and (c) is self-propelled or capable of being towed on public roads. 3. A non-motorized trailer intended and generally used for transporting boats. 4. Snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, boats and any type of water craft. Such vehicles which are placed on a utility trailer shall, together with the trailer, be considered a single recreational vehicle. Stock Car. A motor vehicle of standard design and construction which is modified, adapted or altered in any manner to increase its speed or safety, and designed or intended for operation on a speedway, racetrack, or other facility used or designed for high speed contests between (2) or . more vehicles or for timing of speed. . V. RESIDENTS COMMENTS David Nordli 209 West Wayside Road opposed to the amendment to the city code concerning recreation vehicle on private property. Now parks camper on side of home. No other place to put camper. Small camper. Henriette Hanson 625 8th Avenue South caller thinks the house full of drunks living next to her is more of a problem than the number of vehicles parked on private property - caller thinks we should get our priorities straight. Msfeese@ao1.com In favor of amendment - increase value of homes BOLST AD@cs.com I favor of ordinance because it will make Hopkins look more like a middle class city instead of trashy lower class. No name - caller hopes we pass the ordinance regarding the number of vehicles on the private property No name - Caller is opposed to ordinance pertaining to the number of cars parked on private property. Caller believes for the amount of property taxes he pays, he should be able to park as many cars as he wants on his lot. . Jaqui Duda - Supports an amendment allowing a limited number of vehicles parked in a residential driveway. Jim Shirley - Supports limiting the number of cars per home. v. FUTURE ACTION. Once the direction is determined, staff will draft an ordinance for review by the Planning Commission. .