6.11. SR 08-18-1997City of
MEMORANDUM
Item# 6.11.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
I/
Scott Harlicker, Planning Assistant~
August 18, 1997
City of Elk River Request for
Ordinance Amendment Establishing
Maximum Driveway Widths for
Residential Driveways, Public Hearing
Case No. OA 97-9
Request
Consider a request by the City of Elk River to amend the Zoning Code to
include a maximum driveway width for residential driveways.
Attachments
· Survey of maximum driveway widths from other cities
· Ordinance No. 97-
Overview
Recently there have been a number of inquiries from developers regarding
maximum driveway width for single family homes. At the present time, the
city does not have a maximum driveway width for single family residential
driveways. There is a maximum driveway width for commercial and
industrial uses; the maximum width for one way traffic is 20 feet and the
maximum width for two way traffic is 30 feet.
By establishing a maximum driveway width for single family residences the
following could be accomplished:
· The green space along the residential streets would be maintained.
By setting a maximum driveway width, the aesthetics of the residential
streets could be maintained. Under the existing ordinance driveway
widths can, and in some cases do, approach half the width of the lot. This
gives the streetscape the appearance of garages and pavement.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441~7425
Memo to the Mayor and City Council/OA 97-9
August 18, 1997
Page 2
· Developers and builders would have clear guidance regarding how wide a
driveway could be.
Builders would know prior to designing and siting a house how wide the
driveway can be. This information could affect were the house is located
on a particular lot and might even affect the design of the house.
It is suggested that the maximum driveway width be set at 30 feet. The
driveway width would be measured at the right-of-way. Outside of the right-
of-way, the driveway could be widened beyond the established maximum
width. A driveway width of 30 feet would be wide enough to accommodate all
but the largest garages. Most 3 stall garages, when measured from one edge
of the garage door to the other, are about 30 feet wide.
Attached is a survey of other cities requirements for driveway widths. Of the
10 cities contacted two have no maximum width, one does not have a
maximum width in the ordinance but has a policy of 24 feet, the remaining
seven cities have maximum driveway widths ranging from 20 feet to 36 feet.
Planning Commission Meeting
At the Planning Commission held on July 22, 1997 no one spoke at the public
hearing. The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the
proposed ordinance amendment.
Recommendation
The Planning Commission and staff recommend approval of the attached
Ordinance No. 97-__ which establishes a maximum driveway width of 30
feet.
s: \planning\scott\oa97-9cc.doc
MAXIMUM DRIVEWAY WIDTHS
CITY
Ramsey
Coon Rapids
Lakeville
Brooklyn Park
Bloomington
Eden Prairie
Plymouth
Maple Grove
Apple Valley
Burnsville
DRIVEWAY WIDTH
(measured at Right of Way)
20'
24'
24'
25'
30'
30'
36'
None - Policy is 24'
None
None
s:\planning\scott\maxdrive.doc
ORDINANCE 97-
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER AMENDING
SECTION 900.32(2) Of THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
RELATING TO DRIVEWAY WIDTHS
CASE NO. OA 97-9
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. Section 900.32(2) of the City of Elk River Code of Ordinances
titled "Requirements for Vehicular and Pedestrian Circulation" shall be amended to
read as follows:
2. Driveway Widths (Commercial and Industrial). Measurement between
roadway edges:
Type Maximum Feet Minimum Feet
One-way 20 12
Two-way 30 24
Driveway Widths (Single Family Residential). Single Family Residential
driveways shall not exceed 30' width measured at the street right-of-way.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this , 1997.
day of
Henry A. Duitsman
Mayor
Sandra A. Thackeray
City Clerk
\kelkriver\sys\shrdoc\document\ordinanc\oa97-9.doc