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CASE #: <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PROPOSED ORDINANCE <br />TO AMEND SETBACK AND HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS FOR <br />DETACHED ACCESSORY BUILDINGS OR GARAGES <br /> By: Community Development Director SylVia Frolik <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The Planning Commission has recently been reviewing City ordinances governing the placement <br />of accessory buildings and has directed Staff to 'draft an ordinance to allow detached garages or <br />accessory buildings to be constructed closer to the front property line than the home on certain <br />parcels. Staff drafted an ordinance that would allow accessory buildings to be located closer to <br />the front property line than the home on parcels 1 acre or larger in size, as long as the minimum <br />front yard setback for the respective zoning district was maintained.. The' Planning Commission <br />directed staff to amend the ordinance draft to increase the threshold to 2.5 acres for locating <br />accessory buildings closer to the front property line than the home. <br /> <br />In addition, the Planning Commission suggested some modifications to the height restrictions on <br />accessory buildings. In the current code, the height of accessory buildings is regulated based on <br />whether or not the property is located in or out of the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA). <br />The Planning Commission suggested that the ordinance be further amended to regulate' the <br />height of accessory buildings based on the size of the parcel. <br /> <br />Observations: <br /> <br />The draft ordinance has been amended to establish a 2.5 acre threshold for locating accessory <br />buildings closer to the front property line than the home. In addition, the 16 foot height <br />restriction has been changed to apply to parcels less than one acre in size versus parcels inside <br />the MUSA. The 22 foot height-limit has been changed to apply to. parcels 2.5 acres in size and <br />greater, versus just parcels located outside the MUSA. Staff has also-incorporated some <br />language to establish that variances are required to vary from the height restriction. That <br />language also includes some criteria for considering requests for variances to height restrictions. <br /> <br />The elimination of Subdivisions 7, 8, 9 and 11 were previously reviewed and accepted by the <br />Planning Commission. The provisions of Subdivision 7 were incorporated into Subdivision 10. <br />Subdivisions 8 and 9 are exactly the same; a minimum separation between garage and home are <br />not building code related; this is an aesthetic requirement that has not been practiced and staff <br />proposes to. eliminate. With regard to Subdivision 11, the setbacks for detached accessory <br />buildings are called out in the underlying zoning district and additional setbacks referenced in <br />other sections often causes confusion and errors in administration. In addition, the recently <br />adopted ordinance amending the residential zoning regulations eliminated the requirement for <br />accessory buildings to, meet the setback of adjacent structure, setbacks when we are dealing with <br />comer lots. It doesn't serve any purpose to retain this requirement on regular, non-comer side <br />yard lines. <br /> <br />13 <br /> <br /> <br />