The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About3D, Garage Amendment Discussion MEMORANDUM DATE: May 16, 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Patrick Klaers, City Administrator FROM: Meagan Beekman, City Planner SUBJECT: Planning Case #11-009 Zoning Code Amendment Detached Garages City of Arden Hills Background At the February 22, 2011, Joint Planning Commission and City Council work session, a number of possible zoning code amendments were discussed. One of the possible amendments listed was a change to the Zoning Code to allow detached garages in the front yards of riparian lots. At the time of the work session, the City Council and the Planning Commission gave Staff direction to move forward with drafting possible language that would allow lakeshore lot owners to construct detached garages in their front yards under certain circumstances. The allowance of detached garages in front yards of lakeshore lots has come up several times recently, as lakeshore lot values continue to increase and demand grows to continue improving these properties. Lakeshore lots tend to be narrower and deeper than non-riparian lots, and it is often not practical to add garage and storage space in the side yard of these properties. Furthermore, the definition of “front yard” often differs between the homeowners, who see the lakeside as their front yards; and the City, which views the street side of the home as the front yard. A solution to this problem would be to provide a mechanism within the Zoning Code to allow lakeshore lot owners to have detached garages under certain circumstances between their home and the street. Staff conducted research on other communities’ regulations pertaining to front yard accessory structures and found that most communities provide some provision to allow lakeshore lot owners to construct detached structures on the street side of their properties. Staff looked at the City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for May 16, 2011 \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\Planning\Planning Cases\2011\11-009 - Garages - Zoning Code Amendment (Pending)\05-16-11 - CC WS Report - Garage Amendment.doc Page 1 of 2 Codes of adjacent communities, Minnetonka, Brooklyn Park, White Bear Lake, and Burnsville. Based on a review of these Codes, Staff drafted regulations that address front yard accessory structures (Attachment A). Discussion Staff drafted the following language that would allow detached garages in the front yard of lakeshore lots: A.Detached accessory garages may be located in the front yard (between dwelling and street) of a lakeshore property provided all of the following are met: 1.Detached garages shall not be located within the minimum front yard setback. 2.Color and roof material of detached garages shall match or complement the existing primary residential structure, and shall conform to all other requirements for the zoning district. The above language would only allow detached garages at least 40 feet from the front property line. They would not be permitted nearer the front property line than a principal structure. The language also provides for design standards that would require the new structure to match the existing home on the lot. Any detached garage constructed under this regulations would be required to meet all of the other height, size, and setback requirements of the City’s Zoning Code. Staff is requesting feedback from the Planning Commission on this language, and whether any revisions or additional design standards are necessary. Depending on the Planning Commission’s feedback, Staff may include this item on the City Council’s May 16 work session. A public hearing and formal Planning Commission review may be possible as soon as June 8. Requested Action Discuss proposed Zoning Code Amendment and provide feedback to staff on how to proceed. Attachments A.1325.01– Black-lined Version City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for May 16, 2011 \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\Planning\Planning Cases\2011\11-009 - Garages - Zoning Code Amendment (Pending)\05-16-11 - CC WS Report - Garage Amendment.doc Page 2 of 2 City of Arden Hills Chapter 13 Zoning Code Section 1325 - General Regulations 1325.01 Accessory Structures. (Revised 01/31/11) Subd. 1 Time of Construction. No accessory structure shall be constructed on any lot prior to the time of construction of the principal structure to which it is accessory. Subd. 2 Height. A.R-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts. Accessory structures in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts shall not exceed fifteen feet in height or the height of the principal structure to which it is accessory, whichever is lower. B.All Other Districts. Accessory structures in all other Zoning Districts shall not exceed the height of the principal structure to which it is accessory. Subd. 3 Location. A.Accessory structures in the R-1, R-2, or R-3 Districts shall not be located nearer the front lot line than the front yard setback line for the principal structure to which it is accessory. Accessory structures as permitted and regulated in this Code may be located within the rear yard of the principal structure in the R-1 and R-2 Districts. B.Detached accessory garages may be located in the front yard (between dwelling and street) of a lakeshore property provided all of the following are met: 1.Detached garages shall not be located within the minimum front yard setback. 2.Color and roof material of detached garages shall match or complement the existing primary residential structure, and shall conform to all other requirements for the zoning district. Subd. 4 Size. A.R-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts. 1.Accessory structures associated with residential uses shall not exceed seven hundred and twenty-eight (728) square feet in floor area. Accessory structures associated with non-residential uses shall not Section 1325 – General Regulations Adopted: November 13, 2006 Page 1 of 2 City of Arden Hills Chapter 13 Zoning Code exceed two thousand one hundred eighty-four (2,184) square feet in floor area; and, 2.The total floor area of accessory structures located in the rear of a principal structure, the total floor area of all such accessory structures shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the minimum required rear yard area for the principal structure; and, 3.No more than two (2) accessory structures shall be permitted on a lot primarily used for residential uses. B.All Districts. Accessory structures in all zoning districts shall not cause the property to exceed any of the regulations of the underlying Zoning District in Section 1320. Section 1325 – General Regulations Adopted: November 13, 2006 Page 2 of 2