3A Public Hearing 2012 0221 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Excerpt of Draft Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of .fanuary 19, 2012 Page 4 (?/'6 now, awaiting the outcome of this proposal to avoid having to go through the fence - modification- permit process. In response to a question from Commissioner Fitzsimons, Senior Planner Barros said that particular residents in the RS -VP District could put up solid fences that block only their own views. 4) Paving in Residential Front Yards The Zoning Code includes language about driveways and parking in residential districts, Senior Planner Barros said, but the provisions aren't explicit in indicating the amount of paving allowed. That has contributed to excessive paving becoming a bone of contention. The proposed amendments would limit installation of paving /impervious surfaces to a maximum of 50% of the front setback, avoiding situations of homeowners paving over their entire front yards. Senior Planner Barros said that she surveyed aerial photos of homes all over the City and found that paving typically doesn't exceed 40% of the front -yard area. The proposed changes would still allow a solid driveway and walkway, but prohibit paving over the rest with impervious materials. At the BZA meeting, she said, she was asked whether homeowners could use pervious pavers. Yes, they could, she explained, but someone going to the expense of installing pervious pavers would probably invest in landscaping as well. According to Senior Planner Barros, in addition to aesthetic reasons, the limit on impervious surfaces helps mitigate against stormwater runoff problems. Commissioner Fitzsimons said his own home would be non - conforming, with a double- driveway leading to an attached two - garage in front of the house. While he said he realizes he wouldn't have to change it now, he asked what the procedure would be to have an exception approved. Senior Planner Barros said that it would require a variance, and it would apply throughout a residential district, to single - family and multi - family structures alike. In response to Chair Collier, Senior Planner Barros said that properties that currently have covered more than 50% of their front yard with impervious surfaces would be grandfathered. Chair Collier opened the public hearing. No speakers came forward. Motion to close the Public Hearing Dlugosh /Fitzsimons: 5 Aye, 0 No Commissioner Fitzsimons said that with regard to the paving, it would be beneficial for information on pervious pavers to be available at the Building Permit counter, because it's worthwhile even for driveways and helps prevent stormwater from draining into the Bay. In terms of noticing in the context of the Large Family Day Care facility administrative exception process, Commissioner Fitzsimons said he agrees with Chair Collier about noticing within a 300 -foot radius. In his experience, these facilities can be very disruptive to a neighborhood just in the additional traffic it creates. He estimated that notifying an additional 100 homeowners would increase postage costs by $48 to $50, which he would consider a reasonable expectation of a business seeking this type of exception. Commissioner Rennie said that although the proposed language changes don't address the standards per se, indirectly they involve the standards because they