Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/05/2005

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CASE #: PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE SECTION OF CITY CODE By: Zoning & Recycling Coordinator Chris Anderson llackground: City Code currently prohibits the construction of split level and two-story accessory buildings. Also, the maximum height of accessory structures, which is either 'I6 or 22 feet, is based o.n the size of a parcel, with 2.5 acres or more necessary for the greater height. Additionally, the size of. accessory buildings is also based on the size of a parcel. However, all parcels 10.6 acres or greater in size are limited to the same amount of square footage for accessory buildings, which is 5,664 square feet. Finally, the majority of the regulations for swimming pools and spas are currently in Chapter 8 (Building & Housing) of City Code, yet most are zoning related and would be more appropriately located in Chapter 9 (Zoning & SubdivisiOn of Land). Thc f~>ll~>wing items are enclosed for your information: c) Existing Section 9.11.02 with proposed deletions and additions Proposed ordinance to amend Sections 9.11.02 and 9.20.11 Proposed ordinance to amend Section 8.21 Observations: 2~wo~stt)ry and split level accessory structures are prohibited, in part, because they had been prohibited by the Building Code. However, on March 24, 2003, the ban on tworstory accessory buildings was eliminated from the Building Code. Two-story accessory buildings are not necessarily uncommon. Many people want the extra space for a hobby shop, office, or just more storage space. This can be accommodated without increasing the maximum allowable height for accessory buildings. The height of accessory structures is currently restricted to sixteen (16) feet on parcels less than 2.5 acres and twenty~two (22) feet on parcels 2.5 acres or greater in size. However, two (2) acres is the point at which accessory structures can be sided with metal panels that are color compatible with the home (instead of materials that match the home) and can be located nearer the fi'om property line than the principal structure if certain criteria are met. It seems logical to mJlize a uniform size threshold for height, siding requirements, and location of accessory structures. With the adoption of the cluster ordinance, which essentiaily eliminates the minimum lot size of 2.5 acres in the rural developing areas, the two (2) acre threshold' seems reasonable to use to restrict the height of accessory structures. The size o~'accessory buildings is limited by the size of a parcel. The size restrictions seem to be reasonable with one exception. All properties larger than 10.6 acres are lumped, into the same category ~br allowable square feet of accessory building space. It seems appropriate to create additional size categories that would allow for more square footage for accessory buildings on larger properties.