Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated November 10, 1992 ITEM #: DATE: 11 10JV2 COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: Motion to Set November 24, 1992 as the Date of Public Hearing to Consider a Technical Amendment to Section 29.43(3) to Permit the Parking of One Car in the Front Yard Under Limited Circumstances. ACTION FORM SUMMARY: This is a technical amendment to Section 29.43(3) to allow one parking space in the front yard between the existing driveway and the side lot line, where there are no alternatives for providing additional parking in the side yard or rear yard. The Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommends that this amendment be approved. BACKGROUND: A change to the front yard parking restrictions in the S-R, R1-10, R1-6, R-2 and R2-7 zoning districts is being suggested because of a common on-site parking problem in the City of Ames. It was fairly common in the time period between the late 1940's and approximately 1970 for homes to be built with a one car attached garage. These homes were placed on the lot in such a manner that it is impossible to expand the width of the garage to a double car garage and still meet the required side yard setbacks. (A side yard setback of six feet is required for a one story residential struc- ture and eight feet is required for a two story home.) In addition there is generally insufficient space between the side of the attached one car garage and the side property line to place an additional parking space or extend a driveway into the rear yard. As a result, homeowners who have two or more vehicles must park cars in tandem in the driveway and garage or store vehicles on the street. To remedy this problem in the past many homeowners have expanded the width of their driveways in the front yard toward the side property line so an additional car could be parked in the expanded driveway without blocking the entrance to the garage. That alternative is no longer permit- ted because of the change in the wording of Section 29.43(3) that took place in 1988. That wording specifically prohibits any parking in the front yard from side lot line to side lot except upon a driveway that leads to an attached garage or the parking space in the side yard or rear yard. 2 This proposed amendment to Section 29.43(3) would permit one parking space in the front yard where there is an existing one car attached garage and there is insufficient space between the attached garage and the side lot line to provide a parking space in the side yard or rear yard. This proposed ordinance change would be especially helpful for property owners who live on streets with restricted parking since they do not have the alternative to park on the street. The City has received numerous inquiries from property owners wanting to expand driveways in the front yard, where it is impossible to extend the driveway into the side yard. When staff has had to explain that such expansions cannot be approved, the property owners have a difficult time understanding why this cannot be done, since there are numerous such expansions throughout the commu- nity. The proposed amendment should alleviate some on-street parking through- out the community and may prevent some unsafe movements that currently take place when cars parked in tandem are maneuvering around in the street. The proposed amendment is limited to situations where there is an existing one car attached garage and access to the side yard or rear yard where additional parking cannot be achieved. No parking would be allowed directly in front of the residential portion of the principal building. Thus this proposed change should not have a negative effect on the aesthetics of the front yard. The existing text and the proposed text changes are stated below with the wording changes in bold lettering: Existing Text: Section 29.43 (3) Under no circumstances shall vehicular parking be permitted in the front yard of any residential building in any S, R1-10, R1-6, R-2 or R2-7 district, except upon a driveway that leads to the side or rear yard, or to an attached garage. There shall be no installation at grade of any expanse of asphalt, concrete, gravel, brick, or other form of paving by any material whatso- ever without the written authorization of the zoning enforcement officer. Such authorization shall be granted only if under the facts and circumstances of the particular situation it is unlikely that the paving will facilitate the use of the front yard, or any part thereof, for the parking of vehicles, except on a driveway as aforesaid. Proposed Text: Section 29.43 (3) Under no circumstances shall vehicular parking be permitted in the front yard of any residential building in any S-R, R1-10, R1-6, R-2, or R2-7, except under the following circumstances: 3 (a) Parking is permitted upon a driveway that leads to the side or rear yard; and (b) One parking space is permitted in the front yard in the case where there is an existing, one car, attached garage and there is insufficient room between the side of the at- tached garage and the side property line. Such space shall meet the following requirements: (i) The parking space shall not exceed nine (9) feet in width; (ii) The parking space shall be contiguous to and parallel to the existing driveway; and (iii) The parking space shall be located between the existing driveway and the side property line. There shall be no installation at grade of any expanse of as- phalt, concrete, gravel, brick, or other form of paving by any material whatsoever without the written authorization of the zoning enforcement officer. Such authorization shall be granted only if under the facts and circumstances of the particular situation it is unlikely that the paving will facilitate the use of the front yard, or any part thereof, for the parking of vehicles, except as authorized above. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed this item at their meeting of October 21, 1992 and they recommended that this amendment be approved. ALTERNATIVES: 1. The City Council can approve of the proposed technical amendment to Section 24.43(3) and set November 24, 1992 as the date of public hearing on this item. 2. The City Council can approve of the proposed technical amendment to Section 29.43(3) with modifications and set November 24, 1992 as the date of public hearing on this item. 3. The City Council can deny approval of the proposed technical amendment to Section 29.43(3) and set November 24, 1992 as the date of public hearing on this item. MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative #1. This will approve of the technical amendment and set November 24, 1992 as the date of public hearing on this item. Attachment h\bpo\caf\front.n10 1 i 1 � 1 (actra�e 32` 14 * ILLU�TFT JOfN AMENDMENT TO ,o'