CR 95-002 Permits for Sidewalks, Driveways, Parking Lots-Zoning Code to Off Street Parking
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December 29, 1994 o P K \ '<;I. Council Report 95-002
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Amend Section 810 and 550 City Code
Permits for Sidewalks, Driveways, Parking Lots -
Zoning Code Relating to Off-street Parking
ProDosed Action.
Staff recommends the following motion: Move that Council adoot
for first readina Ordinance 95-754 amendinq sections 810 and 550
of the City Code.
Overview.
Certain ambiguities in Section 810 of the City Code require
clarification through additions and revisions. The engineering
staff wishes to address the issue of material type in driveway
and parking lot construction in this section. Given those
changes, some revisions are then needed in section 550, a zoning
code section relating in part to parking lot surfacing.
Primary Issues to Consider.
. Details of ordinance amendments
. Recommendation
SUDDortinq Information.
e . City Code - Current Sections 810 and 550
. Ordinance 95-754
J~SS~
Engineering Superintendent
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Analysis.
tit · Details of ordinance amendments
section 810 of the city Code requires permits for
construction or repair of driveways, sidewalk and curb/gutter
in public rights-of-way. A subdivision within the section
makes reference to construction standards set down and on
file in the engineer's office. The same subdivision implies
that sidewalk and curb/gutter are to be concrete.
Staff proposes that permit requirements be extended to cover
driveway aprons in public right-of-way, to private driveways,
and to private parking lots for more than three vehicles.
Presently, staff uses permit provisions for driveways in
right-of-way to cover private driveway construction because
in almost all instances private driveways need to make a
connection at a City street. The City needs to not only
protect its interests when connections are made to the
streets, it also should protect the interest of the
residents. Private driveway construction or reconstruction
needs regulation in terms of location. In approximately
one-fourth of the cases residents encroach upon their
neighbor's property or cause adverse drainage with their
driveway proposals.
Permitting of parking lots has become a must because of new
drainage constraints and regulations imposed upon the City by
. the two governing watershed district offices and the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The city is required to
impose construction erosion control measures where grading
takes place. Parking lots not only have an impact on
drainage and erosion during construction, subsequently their
large impervious surface can have a dramatic impact on runoff
characteristics. These issues need to be weighed and
examined and the permit process is the first step.
New code provisions specify concrete construction for
driveway aprons, concrete or bituminous surface for driveways
and parking lots, and concrete curb and gutter for parking
lots accommodating more than three vehicles. The material
and design additions to the code merely bring the City up to
modern industry standards. 95% of residents and developers
already comply with these specifications voluntarily so this
has not been a contentious issue.
A new element in Section 810 is a subdivision restricting the
number of driveway curb cuts to one per residential property.
It is proposed to allow horseshoe or loop driveways in those
instances where the resident's parked vehicle does not
violate current set-back ordinances. Obviously smaller
residential lots cannot comply. Staff is attempting to
address safety issues by limiting in a sense the number of
. access points to its streets. staff is also trying to
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. address issues of aesthetics where several properties have
two driveway cuts and one is apparently abandoned.
Predicated on changes in section 810, section 550.03 of the
Zoning Code will also need to be revised. A new element to
be introduced in this section is the requirement for either
bituminous or concrete parking lot surface and the use of
concrete curb/gutter around the lot perimeter.
. Recommendation
Staff has researched other municipal codes concerning the
proposed additions to sections 810 and 550 and finds them in
keeping with prevailing standards. Staff is concerned about
protecting the city's interests as well as those of residents
with these changes and recommends adoption of Ordinance
95-754.
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Hopkins City Code 810.01
. Section 810 - Permits; Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter
810.01. Permits required. No person shall construct, repair or rebuild any
driveway, sidewalk, curb or gutter over or upon any public property or easement
or right-of-way in the city without first obtaining a permit therefor from the
building official.
810.03. Application for permits. The permit application shall be in writing
and shall state the following:
a) the legal description of the premises involved;
b) the exact location, or locations, upon which it is proposed to con-
struct. repair or rebuild any driveway. sidewalk, curb or gutter;
c) the size in square feet or square yards of such proposed construction,
alteration or repair;
d) the date on which such improvement is proposed to be commenced;
e) the name and address of cement contractor who it is proposed will
construct, alter or repair, remove or demolish such driveway, side-
walk, curb or gutter.
. 810.05. Fee. The fee for the permit is set by chapter X.
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810.07. Specifications. No sidewalk, curb gutter shall be constructed,
or
repaired or rebuilt by any person, except in conformity with the specificat ions
for such cement construction approved by the engineer and on file in the engi-
neer's office.
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Hopkins Cily Code (Zontng) 550.01
(Revised I 3-88)
Section 550 - Zoning: off-street parking
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550.0l. Off-street parktng. Subdtvtsion l. Grandfather. Off-street parking spaces
and loading spaces may not be reduced in number. unless that number exceeds the
requirements set forth in this section for a similar new use. If a building,
structure or use is damaged or destroyed by fire or other cause, it may be re-
established according to subsection 520.03, but in so doing the number of off-street
parking or loading spaces which existed must be retained and should plans be proposed
for enlarging the floor area, seating capacity or other facilities which would affect
the parking or loading requirements, the parking of loading spaces shall be enlarged
accordingly.
Subd. 2. B-3 districts. Except ~n any B-2 district, and in any lot or parcel
of a B-3 district which abuts upon a B-2 district, the owner or occupant of all
parcels and lots in a B district shall provide such an off street parking area as is
required by this code. B-2 and B-3 premises separated only by a public road are
deemed to be abutting.
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.
Subd. 4. Floor area. The term "floor area" for the purpose of calculating the
number of off-street parking spaces required shall be all of the floor area of the
various floors of a structure measured to the centers of all partitions, except those
areas used for dead storage, building maintenance, office of building management,
. toilets or rest rooms, window show cases, dressing rooms, employees' cafe, conference
rooms, or for building utilities. Functional uses within a building shall be divided
by square feet for determining parking requirements upon fi ling of a verified floor
plan.
Subd 5. Benches in places of public assembly. In stadi wns, sport arena,
churches, and other places of assembly in which patrons or spectators occupy benches,
pews, or other similar seating facilities, each 22 inches of such seating facilities
shall be counted as one seaL for the purpose of this section.
Subd. 6. Parking space. Off-street parking space is defined as an area of land
required by this code for vehicle parking which is adjacent to any residential
dwelling unit_ Such spaces shall not be less than nine feet in width and 20 feet in
length; provided, however, that In any parking area which provides for contiguous
parking for more than 25 vehicles, a portion of such area not exceeding 25% thereof
may be designated, delineated, marked and used in dimensions of not less than eight
feet by 16 feet provided such parking spaces are clearly marked as "compact cars".
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~opkins City Cod~ (Znnins) 550.01, Subd. 7
(Revisect 1~3~38)
. Subd. 7. Residential parking facilities. Residential parking facilities may be
used for the parking of automobiles and one truck not to exceed a 9000 pound rated
capacity.
Subd. 8. Joint parking facilities. In all districts except R-l and R-2
required off-street parking facilities may be combined and provided in one area
provided that such facilities shall not thereby be diminished and said parking space
is not greater than 350 feet from the entrance of the building being served.
550.03. Design and maintenance. Subdi vis ion l. Drainage. Driveways shall not
exceed a grade of 4% and all parking lots except those for less than four vehicles
shall be graded according to a drainage plan which has been approved by the city
engineer. Catch basins, swnps and underground storm sewers may be required and all
such lots and driveways shall be surfaced with a material to control dust and
drainage.
Subd. 2. Lightinl':. Lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking area
shall be shaded or diffused so as to reflect the light away from the adj oining
property and away from abutting traffic.
Subd. 3. Distance. All off-street parking areas sha1l be so designed and
constructed that no vehicle parked therein shall be less than one foot from the lot
line nor less than two feet from the principal building_
Subd. 4. Fences. When a required off-street parking area for six cars or more
. is located adjacent to a R district, t.here shall be constructed and maintained a wall
of suitable material of not less than three and one-half feet nor more than six feet
in height to capture the vehicle light beams and muffle the vehicle noise.
Subd. 5. Surface. Off-street parking areas for more than six vehicles shall be
surfaced with asphaltic or portland concrete and each parking stal1 shall be kept
clearly marked on the surface.
Subd. 6. Landscape. Required yards must be landscaped.
550.05. Required off-street parking. Subdivision l. General rule. The minimum
parking areas set forth in this subsection shall be provided and maintained by
ownership, easement, or lease, for and during the life of the respective uses.
Subd. 2. One and two fami.ly dwellings. At least one parking space for each
dwelling unit of 1200 square feet or less and two parking spaces for each dwel1ing
unit over 1200 square feet, plus one additional parking space for each two roomers
accommodated. A p;ara[';€ will fulfill this requirement. A building permit may not be
granted to convert a garage to living space unless other acceptable provisions are
made to provide tbe required parking space.
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Section 550 Page 2
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HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
4It ORDINANCE NO. 95-754
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 810 HOPKINS CITY CODE RELATING TO
PERMITS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR SIDEWALKS, DRIVEWAYS, DRIVEWAY
APRONS, PARKING LOTS, CURB AND GUTTER AND SECTION 550 HOPKINS
CITY CODE RELATING TO OFF-STREET PARKING
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS, MINNESOTA, DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1. The Hopkins city Code, Section 810, is hereby amended
by substituting or adding the following paragraphs to read as
follows:
Section 810 - Permits: Sidewalk. Curb and Gutter.
Drivewavs. Drivewav Aprons. Parkinq Lots
810.01 Permits required. No persons shall construct,
repair or rebuild any public driveway or driveway
apron, private driveway, public sidewalk or carriage
walk, curb or gutter over or upon public
right-of-way, or a private parking lot for more than
three vehicles without first obtaining a permit
therefor from the building official.
. 810.03 Application for permits. The permit application
shall be in writing on a standard form supplied by
the City and shall state the following:
a) the legal description, address, and owner's name
of the premises involved;
b) the exact location, or locations, upon which it
is proposed to construct, repair or rebuild any
driveway, driveway apron, sidewalk, carrlage
walk, curb or gutter, or parking lot;
c) the size in square or square yards of such
proposed construction, alteration or repair;
d) the date on which such improvement is proposed
to be commenced;
e) the name and address of contractor who it is
proposed will construct, alter or repair, remove
or demolish such driveway, driveway apron,
sidewalk, carriage walk, curb or gutter, or
parking lot.
810.07 Specifications. Subdivision 1. Materials and
. desiqn. sidewalks, carriage walks, curbs or
gutters, or driveway aprons shall be of concrete
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construction; driveways and parking lots shall be of
" bituminous or concrete construction - all In
conformity with the specifications for such concrete
and bituminous construction and design approved by
the engineer and on file in the engineer's office.
Subdivision 2. Drivewav cut restrictions. Only one
driveway curb cut per residential property will be
allowed. Horseshoe or loop driveways of no more
than two curb cuts will be permitted where the owner
can demonstrate that parked vehicles in the driveway
will not violate front set-back ordinances.
Subdivision 3. Parkinq lot drainaqe. Parking lots,
except those for less than four vehicles, shall be
graded according to a drainage plan which has been
approved by the city engineer and the governing
watershed district. storm sewers may be required.
Parking lots shall be constructed with concrete curb
and gutter.
Section 2. The Hopkins City Code, Section 550, is hereby amended
by substituting the following paragraph to read as follows:
550.03 Desiqn and maintenance. Subdivision 1. Drainaqe.
Driveways shall not exceed a grade of 4% and all
. parking lots except those for less than four
vehicles shall be graded according to a drainage
plan which has been approved by the city engineer
and the governing watershed district. Catch basins,
sumps and underground storm sewers may be required
and all such lots and driveways shall be surfaced
with bituminous or portland concrete and installed
with concrete curb and gutter.
section 3. This ordinance is effective subject to the following:
First Reading January 3, 1995
Second Reading January 17, 1995
Date of Publication January 25, 1995
Effective Date of Ordinance February 14, 1995
Charles D. Redepenning, Mayor
Attest:
James A. Genellie, city Clerk
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