Memo - Ordinance Amendments
. MEMO
To: City Council
From: Nancy Anderson
Date: April 4, 2002
Subject: Proposed ordinance amendments
Attached are the proposed amendments to regulate the number of cars, RVs, trailers,
and non-passenger vehicles allowed on a lot. The following is a summary of the
proposed ordinance:
Section 515 Definitions - New Definitions for the various types of vehicles that will be
regulated. Most of these definitions come from the City Code.
Section 520 Accessory buildings - The existing ordinance does not limit the number
. of accessory buildings, only the square footage. The proposed language will limit the
number of accessory buildings to two. This would allow a garage and a shed.
Section 530 Accessory uses - Increases the allowable size of a non-passenger
vehicle, fish house or RV to be stored on a lot. Also allows a non-passenger vehicle
over 22 feet to be stored on a lot with screening.
Section 550 - Off-street parking
. Allows a vehicle to be parked next to a garage as a legal parking space.
. Limits the number of vehicles parking outside to three. If there are over three
licensed drivers, there can be as many vehicles as licensed drivers, plus one.
Non-passenger vehicles were included in this total number.
. Cannot use the front yard of a lot for a driveway
. Parking areas on a lot must be on an improved surface. This can be bituminous,
concrete or other hard surface.
.
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CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Ordinance No. 2002-000
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
That Sections 515, 520, 550, and 560 of Hopkins Code of Ordinances be, and the same
and are hereby amended by amending and adding the fol1owing sections:
515.07 Definitions
Subd. 33. 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 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.:
. 2. Commercial equipment has been added to the vehicle such as winches or snow plows:
3. The vehicle is a pickup with a non-standard pickup box: or
4. The vehicle is a trailer IQaded with another commercial vehicle or commercial equipment.
Subd. 49. Driveway. An improved access which connects an off-street parking space to the
public right of way.
Subd. 83. Ice Fish House. A shelter on ice for the catching of fish. A fish house may also be
referred to as a dark house.
Subd. 87. Junk Vehicle. Any motor vehicle which is not in operable condition. partially
dismantled. used for sale of parts or as a source of repair or replacement parts for other vehicles.
kept for scrapping. dismantling, or salvage of any kind or which is not properly licensed for
operation.
Subd. 107. Motor Vehicle. Every vehicle which is self propelled. This does not include lawn
mowers or snow blowers.
Subd. 114. Non-passenger Vehicle. A commercial. military, or recreational vehicle or trailer.
. Subd. 126. 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.
Subd. ]28. 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. military, recreational vehicles, racing
cars. limousines. or stock cars.
Subd. 136. Racing Car. any 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.
Subd. 139. 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 trailtr shall. together with the trailer. be considered a single recreational
vehicle.
Subd. 157. 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.
Subd. 164. Trailer. Any vehicle designed for carrying property on its own structure and for
being drawn by a motor vehicle.
Subd. 165. Trailer bed. That portion of a trailer that is designed to make contact with and bear
the weight of the load to be carried.
Section 520 Zonine:: accessory buildine:s.
Section 520.07 Subd. 3. Arel!. 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 maxi mum percentages of lot area that can be used for accessory buildings
. in each district: R-I-A - 120/0; R-I-B - 10%; R-1-C - 8%; R-I-D - 6%; R-1-E - 6%. The total
number of accessory bui Idil!gs to a residential structure is two.
. Section 530 Accessorv uses.
530.11 Accessory uses: R districts. The following are permitted accessory uses in R districts:
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 non-passenger vehicle one building for winter
ice fishing or one bout or one trailer or one camper or one mobile home provided none of
the above mention items are over -l-& 22 feet in length. Said storage shall not be in the
front yard with the following exception for a boat that will be allowed to be parked in the
driveway from May 1 to October 31.
k) The storage outside of a building but not on a parking space which was included to meet
the minimum standards of this code, one non-passenger vehicle over 22 feet in length.
This non-passenger yehicle shall be no closer than five feet from the lot line. Screening
is required. Screening requires both the use of a fence and plants. The fence must meet
the requirements of Section 520.13. In addition to fencing. landscaping must be used.
The landscaping can be shrubs or trees that will grow to the height of the vehicle when
they reach maturity.
1) Recreational vehicles can be parked on the driveway for up to 48 hours for loading,
unloading or routine maintenance. At these times. the R V must be parked in the
driveway, not the street.
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Section 550 Zonin2:: off-street parkin2
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. Parking lots for
nonresidential uses for more than six cars located in residential areas shall comply with yard
setback requirements. Parking is allowed in driveways leading to garages, carports and legal
parking 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.
There shall be no parking ofyehicles in the rear yard. except for the following:
1. One vehicle can be parked next to a garage on an improved parking space in the rear yard.
2. If the lot does not have [l garage in the rear yard, one vehicle may be parked on an improved
parking space in the rear yard.
550.01 Subd. 9. Number of Vehicles. No more than three (3) passenger vehicles can be parked
or stored outside an enclosed building. at a single family residential home. For a duplex, six (6)
passenger vehicles can be parked or stored outside. If there are three or more persons residing at
a single family dwelling who have valid Minnesota driver's licenses showing the residence
. address. then the total number of passenger vehicles allowed to be parked outside is increased to
a number equal to the number of licensed drivers residing at the property, plus one passenger
. vehicle. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply during snow emergencies. If a single
family residential home has a commercial vehicle, non passenger vehicle or RY. the total number
of vehicles parked outside the garage cannot exceed the limits listed above.
550.01 Subd. 10. Coverage. Total parking and driveway area does not occupy more than 30
percent of the front yard and the average width of a driveway shall not be more than 24 feet.
550.03 Subd. 5. Surface. Off-street parking areas for more than six vehicles shall be surfaced
with asphaltic or portland concrete and each parking stall shall be kept clearly marked on the
surface. All vehicles on a resident lots must be stored on an improved surface. This improved
surface shall be bituminous, concrete. or other hard surface material approved by the city, to
control dust and drainage.
First Reading: xxxx 00, 2002
Second Reading: xxxx 00, 2002
Date of Publication: xxxx 00, 2002
Date Ordinance Takes Eftect: xxxx 00, 2002
. Eugene 1. Maxwell, Mayor
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
City Attorney Signature Date
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