Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/05/1998

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Not in Our Front Yard In the midst of a polarized citizenry, the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, city council unanimously approved a zoning ordinance text amendment regulating parking in the community's residential areas. City officials have responded to numerous complaints about recreational and commercial vehicles parked in the city's yards and driveways. In 1994, a judge invalidated the community's nuisance ordinance dealing with parked vehicles on the grounds that it was essentially a zoning ordinance adopted without a proper public hearing process. The new ordinance is the result of more than a year of debate that included a citizen task force with representatives on both sides of the issue. The ordinance places size limitations on vehicles parked in residential areas. Vehicles taller than 'eight feet in height, longer than 22 feet, or weighing more than 6,000 pounds cannot be parked or stored in front of structures in residential zones. One vehicle exceeding the size restrictions may be parked to the rear of a residence. No more than three vehicles of any kind may be parked or stored outdoors on single-family parcels. Supporters of the ordinance cite concerns about the effects of both the size and number of vehicles parked in driveways and yards throughout the community. Popular concerns include the effect on property values, safety, and the appropriate character of residential neighborhoods. Some residents have suggested that recreational vehicle (RV) owners should consider off-site storage to be one of the costs associated with owning such v~hicles, According to St. Louis Park planning coordinator Judie Erickson, approximately 'half of the city's single-family homes are situated on lots 60 feet wide or less. Many of the city's lots are 40 feet wide, leaving little room for parking RVs and other large vehicles. Fewer concerns were noted in those areas of the city served by alleys allowing for rear-yard access. In addition to the formation of a citizen task force, an outside mediator was also hired in an attempt to reach an agreement among the competing factions, but no consensus was reached. Opponents feel the ordinance will violate their property rights and send a message that the community is hostile toward families and their hobbies. Some property owners have suggested that a legal challenge will ensue. The Minneapolis Star Tribune published an editorial praising St. Louis Park officials for their commitment to protecting residential neighborhoods from "unsightly blight." The editorial staff'noted that communities in the Twin Cities area and throughout the nation are taking similar steps. In neighboring Hopkins, Minnesota, vehicles over 9,000 pounds are prohibited Zoning News is a monthly newsletter published by the American Planning A*sociation. Subscriptions are available for $50 (U.S.) and $65 {foreign), Frank S. So, Executive Director;, William R. Klein, Director of Research. Zoning News is produced at APA. Jim Schwab and Mike Davidson, Editor~; Chris Burke, Fay Dolnick, Gina Jackaon, Sanjay Jeer, Megan Lewis, Ma~ya Mo,is, Becki Rer~laff, Martin Roupe, Jatmn Wittenberg, Reporters; Cynthia Cbeski, A~sistant Editor; Lisa Barton, Design and Production. Copyright ©1998 by American Planning A*sociafion, 122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1600. Chicago, IL 60603. The American Planning hasociafion has headquarters offices at 1776, Ma~chusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the American Planning A~sociadon. Primed on recycled paper, including 50-70% recycled fiber and 10% postconsumer wasle. ~ from parking in residential areas. One vehicle longer than 18 feet may be parked to the rear of the property. Similar provisions can be found elsewhere. In Lenexa, Kansas, for example, an RV less than 28 feet long may be parked on a paved surface in a rear or side yard. The city may issue a temporary permit for parking an RV in a driveway for up to 14 days. In Salt Lake City, Utah, a permit ~ust be obtained in order to park an RV in a residential area. Rear-yard parking is permitted on a hard-surfaced pad while side-yard parking of an RV is allowed (with appropriate screening) only when topographical features prevent rear-yard access. Some observers say neighborhood disputes related to large and numerous vehicles are likely to grow as the RV industry continues to thrive. Communities will face the challenge of protecting the integrity of residential areas while responding to the demands ora growing number of households owning a small fleet of RVs and automobiles. Jason !g-qttenberg Back to the Future in Chicago Many people remember a time, not so long ago, when they could find a movie theater in their own neighborhood. As strip malls, big box retail, and other commercial properties became commonplace, local neighborhood theaters yielded their business to large multiplex theaters located in suburbs adjacent to large shopping malls. Inner-city neighborhoods, which had served as hubs for entertainment, became home to mom-and- pop stores, empty buildings, and fast food restaurants, leaving most inner-city movie enthusiasts without theaters in their communities. This impact was particularly obvious in African American communities. In Chicago, however, a husband-and- wife team has formed Inner City Entertainment, a company scheduled to open three modern multiplex theaters in inner-city African American communities. Inner City Entertainment's theaters are unique not only for their terra-cotta architecture, but because they are the only African American-owned theaters in Chicago located in predominantly African American communities that previously have been deprived of a sustainable economic base and are not gentrifying. These theaters are located in planned developments, eliminating the need for rezoning and allowing greater design flexibility, with fewer standards to meet and the benefit of more efficient and economic public improvements. The theaters' size will differ at each location, though all three will have 10 or more screens. The demand for larger theaters with more movie selections has became obvious with the new trend of megaplex theaters (see "Big Box Meets Big Screen," December 1996). Multiscreen theaters are usually associated with shopping malls or suburban areas, but gentrification has begun to make inner-city neighborhoods popular targets for such development. Many communities see theaters as catalysts for new commercial development, reviving desolate inner-city areas. Following this premise, the city of Chicago helped acquire the land and offered financial support to Inner City Entertainment, whose theaters are located in neighborhoods that have suffered a steady decline of commercial activity. Inner City Entertainment plans to hire primarily from the neighborhood and to offer welfare-to-work programs. Christopher Burke