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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNo 813 Off Street Parking in Residential Areas ORDINANCE 813 AN ORDINANCE ABOUT OFF-STREET PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS The Maplewood City Council approves the following changes to the Maplewood Code of Ordinances: SECTION 1. This section changes the language of Section 19-9(24) of the Maplewood City Code as follows: (24) All other conditions, acts or things which are liable to cause injury to the person or property of anyone. This shall include, but not be limited to, the parking or storage of vehicles in the front yard of a residential property on grass, unimproved areas or areas without a hard surface. SECTION 2. This section adds the following definition to Section 36-6 of the Maplewood City Code. Vehicle: A device for carrying or conveying persons or property that may be self-propelled or may be propelled, drawn or towed by a self-propelled vehicle. SECTION 3. This section adds Subsection 36-22(j) to the city code as follows: Section 36-22(j) (1) Purpose The purpose of this Article of the City Code is to control, through nuisance and zoning regulations, certain land uses and activities that have a direct and detrimental effect on the character of the City's residential neighborhoods. As such, the Maplewood City Council finds that, in order to accommodate the off-street parking needs of residents while protecting the interests of the public, regulations and performance standards are desirable and necessary for off-street parking areas in residential zoning districts. (2) Findings To the purposes listed above, the Maplewood City Council finds that the use and possession of vehicles are an important factor in the lives of many residents of Maplewood. The city council also finds that the number of vehicles, the improper storage of vehicles and the parking of and storage of excessive numbers of vehicles can be a nuisance and can affect the neighborhood character as well as the public health, safety and welfare, property values and the reasonable use and enjoyment of neighboring properties. The city council further finds that the establishment of these regulations further the goals in the Maplewood Comprehensive Plan relative to the establishment and enhancement of residential neighborhoods and similar goals. In making these findings, the city council accepts the recommendations of city staff and planning commission that have studied the experiences of other suburban cities that have reviewed and regulated off-street parking in residential areas. The Maplewood City Council establishes these regulations as a means to balance the interests of the owners of vehicles, nearby residents and the public. (3) Goals Goals in adopting this ordinance include the following: a. Preserving neighborhood character, public health, safety and welfare and property values. b. Allowing all residents a reasonable use of and a chance to enjoy their property. c. Minimizing the nuisances and the adverse effects of off-street vehicle parking through careful site design standards. d. Requiring the owners and builders of residential driveways and parking areas to design and build them to reasonable standards. e. Avoiding nuisances and potential damage to adjacent properties from off-street vehicle parking and parking areas through design standards and setback requirements. (4) Off-Street Parking Standards for Single and Two Family Dwellings. The following standards shall apply to off-street parking for single and two family residential properties in the RE-40, RE-30, RE- 20, F, R-1, R-1(S) and R-2 zoning districts. a. Vehicle parking in the front yard setback area (the area between the front of the residential structure and the street right-of-way line) of single and two family residences shall only be on a hard surface driveway or on improved and designated parking areas. Such a hard surface shall include bituminous, concrete, brick, gravel or crushed rock or another hard surface approved by city staff. b. The city prohibits vehicle parking or storage in the front yard on grass, unimproved areas or areas without a hard surface. c. Driveways and parking areas shall be at least five feet from a side property line and parking areas shall not be in the street right-of-way or on other public property. d. No owner or operator shall park a vehicle that would block a sidewalk. e. All vehicles parked or stored outside on a residential property shall not be abandoned (as defined in Section 19-28), shall have a current license and registration and shall be in operable condition. (Also see Sections 19-28, Definitions and 19-29, Violation.) f. The total area in the front yard setback area of a single dwelling lot improved for parking and driveway purposes shall not exceed forty (40) percent of the front yard setback area. The total area in the front yard setback area of a duplex or double dwelling lot improved for parking and driveway purposes shall not exceed fifty (50) percent of the front yard setback area. g. The city may approve an increase in front yard driveway coverage, a different driveway setback or a different driveway surface for a single or double dwelling by administrative review of minor construction plans as outlined in Section 25-65 of the city code. The city may approve an increase in front yard driveway coverage, a different driveway setback or a different driveway surface where such approval would meet the standards required by code for unique circumstances and where the above ordinance standards do not fit or where they would create a hardship for the property owner. As part of such an approval, the city may require the property owner or applicant to add screening next to or around the parking area or driveway. The city may require such screening to help hide the parking area and vehicles from the view of adjacent residential properties or from the viewfrom the public street. The property owner or applicant may use a privacy fence, additional landscaping or other means to meet the screening requirement. City staff shall approve and inspect all such screening. SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect on August 1, 2001. (After the City Council approves it and the official newspaper publishes it). Passed by the City Council of the City of Maplewood, Minnesota, on the 14th day of May,2001