HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-10 Ltr to Thomas Wilson Re Parking Pad & Retaining Wall Projects •
City of Oak Park Heights
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N.
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Phone:651.439.4439 Fax: 651.439.0574
Building Department Direct Dial:651.351.1661
Email:jhultman@cityofoakparkheights.com
November 10, 2021
Mr. Tom Wilson
14887 Upper 55th St. N.
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Re: Driveway, Retaining Wall and Storage Upon Yard Areas
Dear Mr. Wilson—
We spoke back in 2018 as to parking pads and a retaining wall project you and your neighbor planning
for your shared property line and an anticipated driveway replacement at your home. Please recall
that you were advised that permits are required for such work. I have enclosed letters from May 11
and May 25th of 2018 for your reference.
We have also discussed exterior storage to the yard area as far back as 2012. Your yard area again has
vehicle/trailers placed upon the yard area. City Ordinance 401.15.6 & F regulate off street parking and
requires that vehicles/trailers and similar be placed upon an approved parking pad or to the interior of
your garage. Please remove the vehicles/trailers and similar from your yard and have them placed to
your garage and/or your driveway.
I was by your home today and observed work having commenced to your driveway and to the hillside,
adjacent to your driveway as well as trailers, a 4-wheeler and other items placed upon your yard area.
(1) A STOP WORK notice has been placed, directing that ALL WORK STOP IMMEDIATELY. Please
contact me to secure the required permit for the retaining wall and driveway work.
(2) Additionally, this letter serves as the City's request for Code compliance and directs that all
vehicles, trailers, and similar and exterior accumulated storage items be removed from your
yard areas and be placed to your garage, driveway area or otherwise removed from the
property.
Items(1)and (2)above,shall be addressed no later than Monday, November 22,2021 by:
(1) Submittal of a permit application with a detailed plan and verification of property lines for the
driveway and retaining wall work. A permit application is enclosed.
(2) Removing the vehicles, trailers and similar and other exterior accumulated storage items and
placing then to your garage or driveway area or otherwise removing them from the property.
Tom Wilson
November 10, 2021
Page 2
A compliance check will be made to verify the yard area on November 23, 2021.
Your prompt attention is required. Please contact me immediately with any questions or to discuss the
situation.
Sincerely,
PLANNING&CODE ENFORCEMENT
Julie Itman
Building Official
Enclosures
c: Eric Johnson, City Administrator
Tom Wilson via hand-delivery
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s -' 14168 Oak Park Boulevard No. • P.O.Box 2007 • Oak Park Heights,MN 55082-2007 • Phone:651/439-4439 • Fax:651/439-0574
May 25, 2018
Mr. Tom Wilson
14887 Upper 55th St. N.
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Re: Parking Pad and Retaining Wall Projects
Dear Mr. Wilson:
It was nice meeting you and your family this past Monday. I appreciate your time in discussing the plans
for your driveway/parking pad project and the work you will be helping the neighbors with on the
retaining wall at your shared property line.
As per our conversation you will need to pull a permit for the parking pad work to your property. If you
anticipate replacing your driveway and resurfacing the pad with the same material within this year, I will
accept the permit application for both projects and will allow phasing with the pad material as I and the
driveway and pad material change out at II. This is a zoning permit, with a flat rate permit fee of$25.00.
You were provided with the parking pad requirements and notice of limitation of what may be placed
upon a parking pad with my May 11, 2018 letter. Please review those requirements and limitations so
that you can plan for the pad and its use accordingly.
As to the retaining wall project, your neighbor must apply for that work permit regardless of your help
with the installation. You certainly may help them with the site plan and information in making that
permit if you wish. Again, per our conversation, I will need their permit application, a site plan with
information related to placement, materials and engineering for anything over 4-feet in height. If the
plan is to place it upon the shared property line or within 5-feet of it, they will also need to notify you in
writing of their intent to make such placement and a copy of that communication is to be made part of
their permit application. I have enclosed the permit application packet for this work.
If you or your neighbor have any questions, please feel fee to contact me anytime. I can be reached by
email at jhultman@cityofoakparkheights.com or telephone at(651) 351-1661.
I look forward to working with both of your households on your projects.
Sincerely,
PLANNING & CODE ENFORCEMENT
W
J i Hultman
B Iding Official
Enclosure
Tree City U.S.A.
44.
City of Oak Park Heights
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N.—P.O. Box 2007
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Phone:651.439.4439 Fax:651.439.0574
May 11, 2018
Mr. Thomas Wilson
14887 Upper 55th St. N.
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Re: Parking Pad Expansion —Other Project?
Dear Mr. Wilson:
I was in your neighborhood on inspections, May 10th. While there I observed a large quantity of
block in your driveway and that the grade alongside of it appears to have been prepared for a
parking pad.
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I do not find record of a parking pad permit having been applied for or issued to this address nor
any other permit since the re-roof permit issued in 2017.
Please be advised that work permits are required for many projects, including parking pad, shed
and retaining walls.
The grade, with the vehicles parked upon it, does not constitute a compliant parking pad. I have
enclosed a recent City newsletter article that discussed what is considered an approved parking
pad and also limitation to what may be placed upon it. If you plan to use this as a parking area, City
Ordinance does require that it be an approved parking pad and a permit is required.
No work to this parking pad or any other project with the blocks at this property shall occur until
such time a permit has been applied for and issued.
Please contact me no later than Friday, May 18th regarding the parking pad and the what is being
planned for the blocks in the driveway. You can contact me at 651.351.1661 or via email at
jhultman@cityofoakparkheights.com.
If you feel it would be easier to discuss in person, I am happy to schedule a date and time to meet
you on site.
Thank you for your prompt attention.
Sincerely,
PLANINNG
& CODE ENFORCEMENT
Julie Itman
Build g Official
Enclosure
c: Eric Johnson, City Administrator
Brian DeRosier, Chief of Police
No Parking On the Yard Please
City Ordinance state that cars, trucks, trailers, boats, snowmobiles, water-skis, four-wheelers,
motor homes and other similar items shall be parked in your garage or other accessory building,
upon your driveway or an approved parking pad.
What is an approved Parking Pad?
An approved Parking Pad is a parking pad that is hard surfaced constructed of asphalt, concrete,
cobblestone, paving block or crushed rock that meets minimum Class 5 material specifications
and has at least a 4-inch-deep base.
Designated parking pads shall extend directly from the driveway, away from the house and may
be located within the front, side or rear yard setback. Parking pads must be set back at least 5
feet from rear yard property lines.
There are Limitations to What You Can Place on a Parking Pad
Your parking pad may be used for the placement of:
▪ No more than a total of two (2) recreational vehicles (boats, snowmobiles, etc.)or pieces
of equipment (trailers, etc.), not including racing cars.
▪ Registered and operable passenger vehicles.
▪ No more than one (1) truck and/or trailer not to exceed a gross vehicle weight of 12,000
pounds, except when loading, unloading or rendering a service.
▪ Construction and landscaping materials currently being used on the premises.
Firewood Storage shall not be on a parking pad. Firewood shall be neatly stacked and stored
in the side yard or rear yard or residential premises.