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In Redondo Be=ch, a single-family dwelling in ~y residential
<br />zone must provide cwo parking spaces within an enclosed
<br />garage. Multiple-family dwellings need cwo parking spaces per
<br />unit, of which at least one must be within an enclosed garage.
<br />Condominiums are r. he e.xcepdon and have to provide cwo
<br />enclosed parking spaces per dwelling unit.
<br />
<br />U,~e$
<br />Commonly accepted uses for g~ages include off-sweet parking,
<br />private work~hops, and per, anal storage. But communities vary
<br />in their allowance of other types of utes, including d~ose for
<br />accessoW dwelling units, home occupations, and garage sales.
<br /> Accessory Dwelling Units. Accessory dwellNg units--also
<br />called mother-in-law apartments--are gaining momentum ax a
<br />way to increase affordable housing and provide additional
<br />income for homeowners. They also can spark opposition
<br />because of the potential increase in density and paxking
<br />congestion, particularly in.single-fbanily districts.
<br />
<br />This o~arage/carporr offers a place to ruck the canoe above rhe SU~.
<br />
<br /> In addition co bulk and setback requirements For accessory
<br />dwelling u_nits, codes that allow them tend to mandate
<br />compatibility in appearance with the principal structure
<br />~rough, for example, a matching roof pitch and similar exterior
<br />materials. They also require an off-street parking space,
<br />ownership o(one of the unir~ on'the .property, and a minimum...
<br />amount oF lot area (see "Zoning Ear Accessory, Dwelling. Units~
<br />January, 1997 Zoning News). C~lifomia and Washington have
<br />adopted legislation requiring &at municipalities allow accessory
<br />dwelling units.
<br /> ~orne Occupariom. Personal hobby or office space is generally
<br />considered an acceptable practice for a portion of the =~a. rage,
<br />but operating a gall-blown business in an accessory strt~cmre ks
<br />usually prohibited. Excessive commercial use of one's garage is
<br />sure ro irritate neiglxbots who would bear tb.e brunt of the
<br />impacts gram noise or flames.
<br /> Garage $a[e$. To preserve community character and maintain
<br />residential solitude, many communities place [imitar_ions on the
<br />number of garage sales or number of days residents may have
<br />them: For example, two sales per ye= or sales covering no more
<br />chon l0 days per c~endar year.
<br />
<br />The Future
<br />Will design flexibility and re!arively low construction costs
<br />lead to a more versatile u~e of garages, including those
<br />offices and living space? Perhaps an aging population, rising
<br />
<br />[and costs, and the smart growth movement will make
<br />accessoW dwelling units a necessity.
<br /> 'q/nat will garages look like in 20 years? Will zoning code
<br />restricdon~ prevent them from dominating the streetscape?
<br />Anecdotal evidence suggests a carte!arian between garage size
<br />and economic health. Perhaps a move coward a simpler 15r~tyle
<br />could reverse chis trend, or maybe commercial self-service
<br />storage facilities could help to mitigate garage size. Until chon,
<br />pianner~ and zoning official~ will grapple with ordinance
<br />provisions and the requesra to vary from Oiem.
<br />
<br />NEws-Bem s
<br />
<br /> Seeking Countywide Re~onin9 Notices
<br />
<br />By Dan Pe. nick, A~CP
<br />
<br />in both Oregon and South Carolina, there have been efforts by
<br />landowner righra' or~zarions ro broaden the.notice policies
<br />~har currently e:cist in enaoling le=~slar~on in many atazes, or in
<br />'the notice provisions included in most local zoning ordinances.
<br />These policies couldp[~ce an increased burden on local zoning
<br />officials by speci'~ing that individual nodce must be given to
<br />every properv/owner within their jurisdiction for any proposed
<br />ce'ct or map amendment ~o a zoning ordinance. In South
<br />Caxolina, for instance, the South Carolina Landowners'
<br />,'~zsociarson has cried co amend state ~aw and [ocat zoning
<br />ordinances co provide individual notice, via first-class ma/f, to all
<br />property owners wit_kin a jurisdiction every, time a rezoning,
<br />or any change in a zoning ordinance, is proposed that may
<br />affect uses allowed on a property and/or change the value of
<br />property. Similar proposals have appeared in Oregon, Texas,
<br />and other scares.
<br /> Notification requirements in most zoning ordinances
<br />traditionally have included: posted property notice, owner
<br />notification letters, legal notice in a newspaper of general
<br />circulafiom and adjacent ?roperv/owner or neighbor notice
<br />provisions. Property rash_cs organizations, which have b~n
<br />advocating indNidual or personal nodce, have been active.in
<br />areas throughout the country ~o have these provisions included
<br />within state planning enabling le~slation and in local zoning
<br />ordinances. Broadening notification requirements also may
<br />result in [%--=1 implications for' municipal planners, and their
<br />legal scarfs, when someone does not receive individual notice as
<br />specified under these proposed rules. Although d~e intent of
<br />these proposals is to ensure thar everyone is served personal
<br />notice, any expanded notification requirements will place an
<br />additional'burden on municipalities ~hrough increased
<br />administrative and postage cos=.
<br />
<br />Dan Pennick is the a. ssisranr dlrecvor for the C3artesron County,
<br />South Carolina, Planning Department.
<br />
<br />Zoning far the Arts in Maryland
<br />Maryland recendy became the ~rst state co enact legislation
<br />creating arts and entertainment district designations on'a
<br />storewide basis. As part the smte'~ Smart Growth initiative, the
<br />Arts ~d Entertainmene District program uses cultural activities
<br />to economically and physically revitalize Maryland
<br />communities. The program, which became effective in July,
<br />provides financial benelir~ to areas receiving the state's
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