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Zoning Code amendment streamlines improvement process for homeow by Susan Cathey zoning code amendment approved This amendment to the zoning code rec - by the City Council at its Febru -ognizes the fact that many aging homes in ary13 meeting means homeown -within the administrative review process. our City are in need of updating and may ers who wish to expand or improve their Homeowners may have their plans approved make it more likely that homeowners will properties, even though they do not meet with a building permit.proceed with their projects with a simpli - existing setback requirements, may be allowed to proceed without the time or cost associated with a variance application. Zoning code amendment 12-001, passed Moving Beyond the Yellow Ribbon on a 4-1 vote, went into effect on February by Nick Tamble 23. The amendments purpose, as presented O n January 30, the City Council passed a resolution to become a B by City Planner Meagan Beekman to the the Yellow Ribbon Community. Council, is to allow expansion of non- conforming single and two-family dwell - ings within existing setbacks and under Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is a comprehensive program that creates certain circumstances. The goals of the awareness of the need to connect service members, veterans, and amendment are: their families with community support, training, services, and Streamline the review process (which resources. currently takes 60-90 days). Make it easier to do small improve - ments to residential properties. Awareness is created through community campaigns and sustainable Minimize the number of variance ap - support networks. Organizations, agencies, and companies are coo - plications. vide resources and support to service members, veterans, and the Fellow Minnesotans can volunteer and support service members, ve City staff worked on this amendment dur - families. ing 2011 and presented it to the Planning Commission at its February 8 meeting. A public hearing was held at that time. The FACs are staffed facilities that provide help to those who need Commission approved the amendment geographically dispersed throughout the state, are places where unanimously. veterans and families can visit to have their questions answered understand the military lifestyle. These centers help align peop The need for this amendment arose from Yellow Ribbon Communities. the fact that residential setback require - ments have changed over the years in For more information, please visit www.BeyondtheYellowRibbon.org Arden Hills, but many City homes, built before the changes, do not conform to the current rules. Without a variance, additions and expansions often could not follow the The City is seeking someone to represent Arden Hills and partici existing plane of the structure but would Yellow Ribbon meets every third Thursday of the month at Rosevil have to jog inward to the present setback Please visit the Citys website or contact Community Development distance, nor could upward expansion oc - Hutmacher at 651-792-7819 or jill.hutmacher@ci.arden-hills.mn.us cur. However, because this is such a com - and an application form. mon situation, with many homes no longer in compliance, the variance requirement of