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Home My WebLink About2F, Update on July 11, 2012 Planning Commission Meeting - Moratorium Discussion WIZEN HILLS Request for Council Action 2F _ Prepared By: Meagan Beekman, City Planner Council Meeting Date: July 16,2012 Update on July 11, 2012, Planning Commission Meeting—Moratorium Discussion Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: Recommendation: Councilmember Holmes and Staff will provide an update from the July 11, 2012, Planning Commission work session discussion. Supporting Documents: 1. Memorandum from Meagan Beekman, dated July 16, 2012 2. July 11, 2012, Report to the Planning Commission �-AIQEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: July 16, 2012 TO: Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers Patrick Klaers, City Administrator FROM: Meagan Beekman, City Planner SUBJECT: Update on July 11,2012,Planning Commission Meeting—Moratorium Discussion Requested Action Councilmember Holmes and Staff will provide an update from the July 11, 2012, Planning Commission work session discussion. Background At their June 25, 2012, regular meeting, the City Council approved a city-wide moratorium on multi-family dwelling units while the City conducts a zoning study to look at possible design standards. While the moratorium can last up to one year, the Council directed Staff to move forward quickly and bring forward any proposed zoning code amendments as soon as possible. At their July 11, 2012, meeting, the Planning Commission discussed multi-family design standards and provided Staff with direction and feedback on the scope of the research. Topics discussed included: • Unit sizes and mix • Security, lighting minimums, and participation in the Sheriff's Department Crime Free Multi-Family Housing Program • Access to natural light • Parking standards • Community space gathering requirements, both outdoor and indoor • Minimum kitchen requirements City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Work Session for July 16, 2012 P:WdminlCouncilWgendas&Packet Information12012107-16-12 WkSesslPacketWulti family zoning study-Memo.doc Page 1 of 2 • Minimum bicycle parking requirements • And a number of other possible design features Next Steps Based on the discussion with the Planning Commission, Staff will continue researching multi- family design standards and will have draft regulations to present to the Planning Commission for comment at their August 8, 2012, meeting. A work session is also scheduled in August with the Council to discuss the draft regulations. Provided these discussions go well, and Staff is given clear feedback, a proposed ordinance amendment could go to the Planning Commission for formal review and a public hearing as early as September 5, 2012. Requested Action Staff will provide an update from the July 11, 2012, Planning Commission work session discussion. Attachments July 11, 2012, Report to the Planning Commission City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Work Session for July 16, 2012 P:W dmWCounciIWgendas&Packet Information12 01 2 10 7-1 6-12 Wk SesslPacketWulti family zoning study-Memadoc Page 2 of 2 AVEEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: July 11, 2012 PC Agenda Item 2.A TO: Planning Commission FROM: Meagan Beekman, City Planner SUBJECT: Zoning Study Discussion—Multi-Family Design Standards Requested Action Discuss the scope of work for the multi-family design standards zoning study. Provide Staff input on priorities and parameters for possible zoning code amendment. Background At their June 25, 2012, regular meeting, the City Council approved a city-wide moratorium on multi-family dwelling units while the City conducts a zoning study to look at possible design standards. While the moratorium can last up to one year, the Council directed Staff to move forward quickly and bring forward any proposed zoning code amendments as soon as possible. Staff has begun researching multi-family design standards in other communities, but would like feedback from the Planning Commission on what items are of highest priority, and if there are specific areas of concern that should be focused on. Discussion Based on review of the City's regulations, as well as regulations in other communities, Staff has prepared a list of possible areas to be considered when drafting design standards for multi-family housing. The items provided by Staff are not exhaustive, and it would be helpful to know if there are items that have not been listed, but should be considered. Similarly, if there are items City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Work Session for July 11, 2012 P:IAdmiMCounci1W gendas&Packet Information12012107-16-12 Wk SessftcketWulti family zoning study-Attachment A.doc Page 1 of 3 listed that the Planning Commission feels are not important, that should also be part of the discussion. • Minimum unit sizes—based on a preliminary review of other communities in the metropolitan area, cities that have minimum unit size requirements have regulations that range from 450 to 650 square feet. Some cities differentiate between efficiency units and other units in terms of their minimum sizes and some do not. • Windows—Staff has not been able to identify other cities that have a requirement that every unit have at least one window to the outside. The building code requires each living unit have a window to the outside or to a courtyard; however, courtyards are not clearly defined. Design standards could be written that define courtyards. • Parking requirements— Some cities have more nuanced regulations that consider the size of a residential unit when setting minimum parking requirements. One possibility would be to require a certain number of stalls per sleeping unit; for example, 1.25 or 1.5 stalls per bedroom. • Structured parking—Many cities require that at least one parking stall per unit be either covered or enclosed. Staff would like input on the difference between covered versus enclosed parking. • Lighting—The Arden Hills Zoning Code currently has maximum lighting requirements, but not minimum requirements. The Ramsey County Sheriff has recommendations for minimum lighting for commercial and multi-family residential properties. The City may want to consider adopting minimum standards to go along with the maximum standards that already exist. • Secured bicycle parking requirements—It is not clear if other communities have requirements for a certain number of secured bicycle parking spaces for multi-family residential, additional research is necessary. • Minimum indoor community space—Some communities have requirements related to a ratio of required community/shared space for number of units in the building. • Outdoor recreation areas—The B-2 District has requirements for outdoor gathering spaces; however,this is not a requirements in other districts. The City may want to consider requirements for outdoor recreation or gathering space for all multi-family housing developments. Next Steps Based on the discussion with the Planning Commission, Staff will begin drafting design standards for multi-family housing. Staff plans to identify key stakeholders that may have an City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Work Session for July 11, 2012 P:IAdminlCouncillAgendas&Packet Information12012107-16-12 Wk SesskPacketWultl family zoning study-Attachment A.doc Page 2 of 3 interest in the regulations and invite them to provide comments as the draft regulations are developed. Staff plans to bring draft regulations to the Planning Commission at the August 8, 2012, meeting for further direction and feedback. The draft regulations would then go to the City Council for additional discussion at a work session later in August. Provided discussions go well, and Staff is given clear feedback, a proposed ordinance amendment could go to the Planning Commission for formal review and a public hearing as early as September 5, 2012. Requested Action Discuss the scope of work for the multi-family design standards zoning study. Provide Staff input on priorities and parameters for possible zoning code amendment. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Work Session for July 11, 2012 P:1AdmWCounciIWgendas&Packet Information12012107-16-12 Wk SessWacketWulti family zoning study-Attachment A.doc Page 3 of 3