Agenda - Planning Commission - 10/06/1992

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CASE # 6 DISCUSSION OF LOT AREA AS IT RELATES TO PLATTING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT; By: Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik Background: When proper~.Y is! platted, the developer must provide for the minimum lot area on each lot. When you look up the definition of minimum lot area in City Code, it states that the minimum lot area may not inclt[de ~e road right-of-way in the urban areas, but it may include the road fight-of-way in the rural a~eas~: Naturally, developers of the rural area take advantage of this option because it increases the num. ber of eligible lots in a plat by 18% generally. Then the property is marketed accordingly, i.e., .1 acre lots, 2.5 acre lots, etc. (whatever the minimum lot size was at the time of platting). For your information, I have enclosed an excerpt from Section 9.02 (Definitions) of the Ramsey City Code). Observations: For code enforcement purposes, it has been the City's policy to compute lot area from property line to property lirle. This then becomes a problem, especially when people find out their actual lot size is something'4es/~ than it was advertised at, as many regulations are based on lot size. For example, the I~hreshold for having a metal accessory structure is 2.5 acres. More often than not, lot sizes are son~th!r~g less than 2.5 acres in a subdivision marketed as having 2.5 acre lots. The amount of ac~ss0ry building space allowed on properties is on a graduated scale based on lot size. For example, ,the ramount of accessory structure space allowed on a 2.4 acre lot is 400 square feet less than that which is allowed on a lot measuring 2.5 acres. Recommendation: In the interest of consistency and uniform application of the Code, I recommend that the definition of "Lot, minimum area of" be amended to delete the option to include road right-of-way in the rural areas. Many areas of the code also refer to 'parcel', but 'parcel' is not defined. ! would recommend that ~he definitions also be amended to include 'parcel' as a lot of record with the area of same beingmeasured from property line to property line. CommisSion Action: Motion to: Direct City Staff to draft an ordinance to amend City Code to eliminate the option to include road right2of-way when determining lot area in the rural areas and to add a definition of 'parcel'. Review Checklist: P&Z: City Administrator City Engineer Building Official Project Manager Zoning Administrator 10/6/92 G3