Agenda - Council - 02/22/1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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coon rapids to: Mayor, City Council, _City Ma~nager from: ~.eonard Kne date: January 20, 1982 subject: Proposed Code Change - Housing Floor Area Requirement BACKGROUND On December lst Council gave first reading to an ordinance amending the City Code by adding a definition of "finished floor area" and by establishing revised minimum floor area requirements for single family and townhouse developments. During the course of discussion prior to giving first reading, concerns were expressed by developers with regard to our definitions of basement and cellars and the computation of livable area within a housing unit. Council directed staff to give consideration to these concerns prior to second reading of the ordinance. We have had several discussions with builders, the result of which is the ordinance presented to you this evening for second reading. The definition of finished floor area contained in 11-201 (39.1) has not been changed from first reading. In Section 11-705 (3) we are.designating that.portion.Qf.the finished floor area which may be at or'above lot grade. .In addition~,we are adding a definition in'the section for the term "l~t grade". We-are also providing that of the portion of finished floor area which must be at or above grade, no less than two-thirds of the area must be on a ~in~leJ~, except for 3 or more levels above grade, ~n which case at east must be on a single floor. For example, a single family home constructed slab-on-grade would require 960 square feet, all of which would be at or above lot grade. If a single family home were two-stories in height, one of the floors would have to have at least 640 square feet. The remaining required square footage, or 320 square feet, could be on the second story. A second example would be a split level home. Again, the total finished floor area must be a minimum of 960 square feet. 720 square feet of this must be at or above lot grade. If this is contained on two floors, one of the levels must have at least 480 square feet (2/3rds of 720). We feel that the changes accomplish at least two things. The first is that it does provide some credit to builders for finished floor area space located in basements. It does, however, limit the number of square feet that can be located in the basement area. The two-thirds requirement prevents the footprints of houses from becoming unacceptably small. This provision is actually more restrictive than current Code provisions. Under the current Code, a builder could meet the 960 square foot requirement by constructing a two-story house, each floor of which is 20 by 24 feet in size. Staff does not feel that these are desirable building designs. The proposed Code change would require that the footprint be at least 640 square feet in size. 1313 Coon Rapids Boulevard, Coon Rapids, Minnesota 55433 (612) 755-2880