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. . . This ordinance is enacted for the following purposes: . To promote the general public health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Arden Hills, Minnesota, (1 ,B, I) . To promote the proper use ofland and structures. (I,B,6) . To fix reasonable standards to which buildings, structures and land shall conform for the benefit of all (1,B,7) The stated purpose of the R-t: Single Family Residential District as stated in Section 5,D,1 is as follows: . To establish areas for the development of single family detached housing at a maximum density of approximately 3 units per acre. . To reserve development areas for single-family housing. . To restrict encroachment of incompatible uses. . To maintain density limitations, . To take advantage of municipal utilities. . To preserve open space. (YES) The applicants' proposal is consistent with the R -1 District and the Zoning Ordinance purposes. The applicants are requesting the variances due to the reduced access (created by the new center median that will be installed in Lexington Avenue) and concerns about difficulty accessing their properties. The standard for one driveway access per proper'" is intended to limit access on residential property to maintain a residential appearance for single-family homes. However, there is a large difference between aesthetic impact on a residential property on a typical neighborhood street where the traffic is only traveling 25 or 30 miles per hour, versus a property on a major arterial where traffic is traveling 45 to 50 miles per hour. 3, Could the property in question be put to a reasonable use without the granting of the variance? (NO) The properties were subdivided and granted a lakeshore setback variance in 1995 subject to 3 conditions of approval. One of the conditions was the shared access drive; another was the installation of one turn-around for each property. While the shared driveway was constructed, it appears that the turn-arounds were not. However, with the limited amount of space between the homes and Lexington Avenue, a turn-around may interfere with the limited off-street parking areas. In addition, the residents have stated that there have been several times where one vehicle is exiting and another is attempting to enter the drive, the shared driveway makes it difficult to access the properties. Traffic that has to wait on Lexington Avenue to access the property presents a real safety hazard for the applicants and for others traveling on Lexington A venue. \\Earth\Planning\Planning Cases\2005\05-09 Radziej and Sabot Driveway Variances (PENDING)\02-02-05 PC Report Rodziej and Sabot Dri\'ew<lY Variances.doc Page 5 0/7