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<br />Memo to the City CouncilN 99-5 <br />May 17, 1999 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Furniture and Things is proposing to expand their warehouse facilities <br />located in the Rail 10 Industrial zoning district. The proposed expansion <br />requires a variance to allow a gravel drive aisle within the 10 foot setback <br />from the property line. <br /> <br />Elk River Citv Ordinance <br /> <br />Section 900.24, 4A of the Elk River City Ordinance regulating parking reads <br />as follows: <br /> <br />A. In multifamily, commercial, and industrial districts, no <br />parking area, drive aisle or loading space shall be located <br />within ten (10) feet of any property lines except that zero <br />lot lined developments may have parking that abuts the zero <br />lot lined property boundaries. Further, non-single family <br />residential uses located in single family residential or <br />agricultural conservation districts shall also be subject to <br />these requirements. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Fire Code requires a fire lane of 20 feet wide, and the City generally asks for <br />24 feet wide fire lane. The applicant has proposed at points a 12 foot paved <br />fire lane and an additional gravel area with grass covering to extend into the <br />setback area. This gravel area is not intended to be plowed, however it is <br />requested by the Fire Chief to in effect achieve the 20 foot lane width. Staff <br />believes that if this area is to be potentially used for a drive aisle for fire <br />trucks and needs to be clear of trees and the like, then in order to uphold the <br />intent of the ordinance, it should be subject to the setback requirements and <br />in this case require a variance. <br /> <br />Board of Adjustments <br /> <br />At the March 27, 1999, public hearing, only the applicant spoke regarding <br />the variance request. At the public hearing, the applicant presented some <br />new information regarding a curb/wall separation between loading docks and <br />existing parking. Both the Commission and staff felt the new information <br />eliminated the need for a variance from the off-street loading and overhead <br />door access requirements. <br /> <br />The Commission concurred with staffs recommendation and denied the <br />variance request. <br /> <br />Granting of Variance <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Staff refers the City Council to Section 900.40 of the City of Elk River Code of <br />Ordinances for the five standards to consider when reviewing a variance. A <br />variance may be granted only if it meets the following five conditions: <br /> <br />f: \shrdoc\planning\stevewen\ccmmo \ v99- 5 cc. doc <br />