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CASE #..~' REVIEW OF~CITY CODE REGULATIONS FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES By: Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik Background: At your October m~efing, we discussed the fact that the method used for determining minimum lot area when platting ~(with road fight-of-way) conflicts with the method used in determining lot area for code enfoi'eernent purposes (without road right-of-way). At that time, the Commission recommended ~som~ definition changes in City Code to eliminate the ability to use of road right-of- way to meet nC, nimj~m lot area requirements when platting. We also diseuSseI !one of the problems that has arisen from allowing developers to include road right-of-way i~ n'e~ting minimum lot sizes when property is platted. Many home buyers thought that they were gel i,hg a 2.5 acre lot when they bought into the "2.5 acre subdivision", when in fact many of the loIs: '¢ something less than 2.5 acres. The threshold for having a pole building is 2.5 acres. The im~ac Iof this is that some of the lots in a "2.5 acre subdivision" will qualify for pole buildings and ~or ~ ..... · ' ~ will not. The Commlss~on direcnon was that I place a case on this agenda to review our eu~e~! regulations for accessory structures for the purpose of determining if any amendments t0iit ~e appropriate at this time. Enclosed for y~ur information and review is a copy of the current code regulations for accessory structures. ~ Observations: A first though~ rn~'ght be to reduce the threshold for pole buildings from something less than 2.5 acres to someihiOg more than 2.0 so that all residents in "2.5 acre subdivisions" are treated equitably. Th~fo!lOwing is a summary of the minimum acreage requirement for pole buildings in some of the suerOUrlding communities: Community Andover Elk River Thr~Sholcl for Pole Buildings 3 acres 5 acres Residenti',d/Agriculture zoned areas only Special Notes 300' setback from neighboring residences or platted areas. Pole building cannot exceed size of home on parcels less than 10 acres in size Champlin Ham Lake 5 acres RecommendatiOn: Of the surrounOing communities, Ramsey already has one of the most lenient acreage thresholds for pole buildi~-gg~,i I recommend that there be no reduction of the acreage threshold for pole buildings. Ex~CePrtlfor some isolated cases, as evidenced by the numbers of applications for conditional usi~ p'ermits for accessory structures larger than code allows, I believe the size allowances currently estabhshed are adequate. The language that establishes the standards for building desiglB at~ exterior facing finish could be amended for clarification purposes. The table working out tl~e formula for graduating accessory structure size limits based on parcel size is