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<br />CASE # <br /> <br />'1 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />INTRODUCE ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 9.02 (DEFINITIONS) AND <br />9.20.11 (R-2 MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT) OF THE <br />ZONING CHAPTER OF CITY CODE <br />By: Breanne DaInes, Associate Planner <br /> <br />Background: <br />In accordance with direction of the Planning Commission and City Council, staff has <br />spent several months exploring city code changes to define and provide standards for <br />"detached townhouses." As the housing market molds and morphs to the demand, <br />detached townhouses have become a more popular housing option and the necessity to <br />address these types of housing units has increased in recent years. <br /> <br />Enclosed are the following documents: <br /> <br />a) Summary of Proposed Changes <br />b) Proposed Ordinance <br /> <br />Observations: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />In the past two years, the City of Ramsey has received multiple applications for. the <br />development of a style of housing commonly referred to as "detached townhouses." <br />These types of units are called villas, bungalows, or cottages, but are defined by the <br />following common attributes: detached units, sharing no walls; association-maintained <br />yard and common parks/street areas; and small private yard, usually no more than 5 feet <br />around the perimeter of the house.. The "detached townhouse" style of living is designed <br />for people who do not want to purchase or maintain a private yard, but still have the need <br />and desire for community open space and recreational areas. <br /> <br />City Staff, the Planning Commission, and City Council have encountered problems when <br />analyzing these detached townhouse development applications because City Code does <br />not provide' standards for them. They cannot be compared with typical townhouse <br />standards because they are not large buildings with multiple units. Yet they cannot be <br />compared with typical single-family homes because the land is held in common <br />ownership and association-maintained, usually resulting in a request for small private lot <br />SIzes. <br /> <br />The proposed changes will define "detached townhome," allow for their development in <br />R-2 districts regardless of their density, and provide standards for development, <br />specifically setbacks and building separation. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />In the Council worksession held last month regarding this matter, Staff was directed to <br />incorporate the following components to City Code: " , -_.. <br /> <br />1) Go forward with revising the R-2 standards to include detached townhouses. <br /> <br />-317- <br />