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<br />Case #3: <br /> <br />Proposed Ordinance to Amend Off-Street Parking Regulations; Case of City <br />of Ramsey <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt closed the regular portion of the Planning Commission meeting at 8:55 p.m. in <br />order to call the public hearing to order. <br /> <br />Public Hearing <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt called the public hearing to order at 8:55 p.m. <br /> <br />Presentation <br /> <br />Interim Community Development Director Frolik stated currently City Code does not place any <br />restrictions on the number of vehicles and equipment that can be stored outside on a residential <br />parcel; only that vehicles must be operable and parked on an improved surface. Regulating <br />outside storage of vehicles and equipment oy whether or not they are operable is very <br />challenging. <br /> <br />On July 10, 2007, the City Council directed City Staff to draft an ordinance amendment to <br />regulate outdoor storage and parking by numbers of items rather than by operability. <br /> <br />On September 6, 2007, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing regarding the <br />proposed ordinance to regulate numbers of vehicles permitted to be stored outside, basically by <br />the number of licensed drivers living within the dwelling on the property. The Commission <br />tabled the case for additional information. <br /> <br />On December 6, 2007, the Planning Commission reviewed two alternatives brought forward by <br />City Staff: 1) regulating the amount of outdoor storage by setting limits on the amount of <br />parking surfaces allowed on a parcel, based on the size of the parcel; and 2) regulating the <br />amount of outdoor storage based on an aggregate number of items that would increase with <br />parcel size. The Planning Commission recommended that the City Council monitor the success <br />rate of the newly implemented abatement ordinance and not take action to amend the City Code <br />at this time. <br /> <br />On January 22,2008, City Council reviewed the draft ordinance and the recommendations of the <br />Planning Commission. The City Council determined that regulating items stored outside by the <br />number of licensed drivers in the home could be as difficult as trying to regulate by operability. <br />The City' Council reviewed the alternatives that were presented to the Planning Commission. As <br />a result, City Council directed City Staff to draft an ordinance that would establish an aggregate <br />number of items allowed to be parked or stored outdoors on parcels less than 5 acres and parcels <br />5 acres or greater in size. <br /> <br />Per Council's direction, the proposed ordinance was drafted to regulate outdoor storage on <br />residential parcels based on an aggregate number of items, regardless if they are vehicles or <br />recreational equipment. The main points of the proposed ordinance are as follows: <br /> <br />Planning Commission / March 6, 2008 <br />Page 10 of21 ' <br /> <br />-11- <br />