Minutes - Planning Commission - 03/06/2008

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1. 5 items allowed for outdoor storage and parking on parcels less than 5 acres in size. 2. 8 items allowed for outdoor storage and parking on parcels 5 acres or more in size. 3. Items stored or parked in rear or side yards shall maintain a 5-footsetback from property lines, unless there is screening in place such as a privacy fence. 4. Items stored or parked separate from other items shall count as 1 item each; multiple items stored or parked on a trailer, for instance, count as 1 item. 5. Items that will count towards the number restriction include, but are not limited to, the following examples: Vehicles, RV's, campers, boats, canoes, snowmobiles, jet-skis, ATV's, go-carts, motocross bikes, motorcycles, and other recreational equipment. 6. Items that will not count towards the number restriction include those items typically seen as accessory to a residential use such as lawnmowers,garden tractors, bicycles, wheelbarrows, etc. 7. Items stored outside, even though they may comply with the number restriction, are still subject to the public nuisance regulations in Chapter 5. 8. Equipment will be required to be stored or parked on a prepared parking surface, like vehicles. 9. The material for the prepared parking surface must be at least 2 inches in depth. It is reiterated that Code requires the surface to be applied under the entire vehicle or equipment and extend 12 inches beyond the perimeter of the vehicle or equipment. 10. Vehicles or equipment for a commercial use will count towards the maximum number of items allowed to be parked or stored outside. During the January 22,2008 Council discussion, City Staff was asked to consider a clause in the ordinance wherein a resident, with just cause and hardship, would not be required to make any formal applicant and could get permission from the City Council to store more items outside than the code allows. The City Attorney has suggested that such a procedure would be inequitable application of the land use regulations and opens the door to frivolous requests and arbitrary and capricious decisions. All other residents and entities have to pay for a variance; and by law their requests are subject to a public hearing, which gives neighbors the opportunity for input. In the more casual process suggested, there would be no opportunity for a neighbor to express concern or appeal the permission granted to exceed what City Code allows. If there is concern that there are going to be instances where 5 or 8 items is too restrictive, then City Staff recommends that the Planning Commission and Council reconsider the numbers rather than making arrangement for a separate variance process. City Staff recommends adhering to current procedural requirements. It was noted Jeremy Sturgill, 8100 I 54th Avenue NW, and Steve Angell submitted emails to the Commission, they read: - Email #1: "1 would like to submit my comments about the proposed ordinance changes for Off-Street Parking. Planning Commission / March 6, 2008 Page 11 of21