04-09-07 Item 7B, AUAR Relating to TCAAP

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - OCTOBER 10, 2006 7 CouociImember Graot stated the City created a road in front of the property, which was substandard to the 32- foot road, and thereby the City infringed upon this. He noted the road design was not created by the resident. This also did not change the character of the neighborhood given the number of dual driveways. Couocilmember Holdeo stated they could make them cover the crushed rock on the second dual access point with sod, so considering the angle of the property and that at any point in time, if they did change this, it would change the character of the neighborhood, she believed this was a reasonable use for the property. Couocilmember Larsoo stated the width of the road was consistent with the neighborhood and he did not believe they should use that as an argument as the need for a variance. He expressed concern about setting a precedent and he did not believe this was a good justification. The motion carried (3-1) (Councilmember Larson opposed). CouociImember Grant stated the residents had a reasonable assumption that the crushed rock driveway was approved and as such it should be allowed to continue. He noted the only reason this was discovered was because the City had improved the street. Mayor Aplikowski stated she was struggling with allowing crushed rock to remain and she would like to add whenever this driveway was replaced that it be replaced with a City approved driveway surface. Couocilmember Holdeo stated with all of the water runoff, why they would not allow this. She noted a crushed rock driveway could be maintained nicely. Mayor Aplikowski stated she was inclined to say this driveway was okay because it was maintained, but when this driveway needed to be replaced she would want it to be replaced with a City approved surface. Cooocilmember Larsoo stated they had a Code and if Council was not comfortable with the Code they should change the Code and not issue variances. He stated if a variance was going to be issued, they needed to have justification as to why they were going to do that. He believed there was a correct way to do this and this was not the correct way. Mr. Lehohoff asked if the City Council would like to table this item and consider changing the existing Ordinance. Mr. Filla responded unless the Council wanted to change the Code, there was no reason to table this. Couocilmember Holdeo stated she was not inclined to table this. She believed the applicants had moved forward with a crushed rock driveway in good faith because they believed it had been approved by the City.