HomeMy WebLinkAbout2C, Zoning Study Discussion - Multi-Family Design Standards EN HILLS
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Request for Council Action
2C
Prepared By: Meagan Beekman, City Planner Council Meeting Date: August 20, 2012
Zoning Study Discussion—Multi-Family Design Standards
Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source:
NA NA NA
Requested Action:
Review draft design standards and provide feedback and direction to Staff
Supporting Documents:
1. Memo, dated August 20, 2012, from Meagan Beekman
2. Draft Revisions to Sections 1305.04, 1320.06, 1325.045, and 1325.06 of the Arden Hills
Zoning Code
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,- REN HILLS
MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 20, 2012
TO: Honorable Mayor or City Councilmembers
Patrick Klaers, City Administrator
FROM: Meagan Beekman, City Planner
SUBJECT: Zoning Study Discussion—Multi-Family Design Standards
Requested Action
Review draft design standards and provide feedback and direction to Staff.
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, work session, the Planning Commission reviewed the scope of work for
the design standards study and provided direction to Staff on high priority items. Based on that
discussion, recommendations from the League of Minnesota Cities, and a review of other
communities' codes, Staff prepared draft regulations of design standards for multi-family
dwellings. The draft was then presented to the Planning Commission at their August 8, 2012,
work session. The Planning Commission provided further direction on a number of items,
including special requirements for senior housing and the participation of multi-family housing
in the City's rental registration program.
Staff has revised the draft regulations based on the Planning Commission's discussion and is
now seeking the City Council's feedback.
City of Arden Hills
City Council Work Session for August 20, 2012
P:IPlanninglPlanning Cases120121Zoning Code Amendment-Multi family HousingW-20-12- CC Memo-Multi family zoning study.doe
Page 1 of 3
Staff has sent out copies of the draft regulations to identified stakeholders, seeking comments.
Discussion
Based on the Planning Commission's discussions, Staff has prepared a draft ordinance that
addresses multi-family design standards. The regulations include items related to the following:
• Added definition for Enclosed parking
• Minimum units sizes
• Submission of a security plan and lighting plan.
• Parking requirements
• A requirement that adequate common areas be provided
• Percentage of efficiency apartments allowed within a specific development
• Minimum bike parking requirements
• Window covering requirements
Staff sent a copy of the draft regulations to the City's Attorney, as well as the League of
Minnesota Cities to get feedback. Comments from the league indicated that the City should
avoid regulations within the Zoning Code that directly pertain to items regulated by the State
Building Code. State Law preempts the State Building Code from other, more restrictive,
requirements that a city may wish to impose.
Further, the attorney recommended making all multi-family housing a conditional use, and
making the standards indicated in the draft regulations, additional criteria for conditional use
permit approval. This procedural recommendation differs from the City's current process, which
has multi-family housing be a conditional permitted use through a PUD.
Finally, the attorney recommended addressing participation in the Crime Free Multi Housing
program, through the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department, in the rental registration program.
Staff has not yet had an opportunity to fully analyze the implications of such a change; however,
additional discussion on this topic with the Council would be helpful in providing direction.
Through their discussion, the Planning Commission is recommending that the additional
requirements apply to all new multi-family housing consistently, and that separate regulations for
independent senior units or renovations of existing buildings not have separate or special
provisions. The Planning Commission acknowledged that each property is reviewed on a case
by case basis, and that the variance and PUD processes exist to deal with unique properties or
properties with special circumstances.
City of Arden Hills
City Council Work Session for August 20, 2012
P:Tlanning0anning Cases120121Zoning Code Amendment-Multi family HousingW8-20-12- CC Memo-Multi family zoning study.doc
Page 2 of 3
Next Steps
Based on the discussion with the City Council, Staff will revise the draft regulations. Additional
work session discussion may be necessary; however, if it is not 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
Review draft design standards and provide feedback and direction to Staff.
Attachments
Draft Revisions to Sections 1305.04, 1320.06, 1325.045, and 1325.06 of the Arden Hills Zoning
Code
City of A rden Hills
City Council Work Session for August 20, 2012
P:IPlanninglPlanning Cases120121Zoning Code Amendment-Multi family HousingW-20-12- CC Memo-Multi family zoning study.doc
Page 3 of 3
City of Arden Hills Chapter 13 Zoning Code
Section 1320—District Provisions
Zoning Districts:
Uses: y, R- R-2 R-3 R-4 NB' B-1 B-2 B-3 B 14, GB 'l-1 122 {FLIX M MB,"
Caw elling::rr un ple family C C C C C C P
Section 1305 - Definitions
1305.04 Definitions.
Subd. 70 Enclosed Parking. A structure used for the storage of a vehicle which must
be covered and completely enclosed by walls or doors on four sides.
Section 1325 - General Regulations
1325.45 Multi-family Dwelling Units Additional Conditional Use Permit Criteria.
Subd. 1 Minimum Unit Size. Six hundred (600) square foot minimum floor area
for efficiency apartment units, plus one hundred (100) square feet for each additional
bedroom. Garages, breezeways, common hallways, balconies, and porch floor spaces
shall not be credited in determining the required floor area of units.
Subd. 2 Security Plan Component. A complete security plan shall be submitted at
the time of the development proposal, subject to the approval of the Ramsey County
Sheriff's Department
Subd. 3 Lighting Plan Component. A complete photometric plan shall be
submitted in compliance with the recommendations of the Ramsey County Sheriffs
Department. Compliance with this requirement shall be in addition to any maximum
lighting requirements, as described elsewhere in the City's Zoning Code.
Subd. 4 Parking. A minimum of one enclosed parking stall shall be assigned to
each dwelling unit. Enclosed parking structures shall be attached to at least one of the
principal structures to which parking is being provided.
Subd. 5 Common Area. Adequate common area shall be provided.
Subd. 6 Efficiency Apartments. Except for senior citizen housing, the number of
efficiency apartments in a multiple dwelling shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the total
number of apartments. In the case of senior citizen housing, efficiency apartments shall not
exceed twenty five(25)percent of the total number of apartments.
Section 1325—General Regulations
DRAFT—Last Revised: 07-17-12
City of Arden Hills Chapter 13 Zoning Code
Subd. 7 Bicycle Parking. A minimum of one secured storage space shall be
provided for every .5 dwelling units.
Subd. 8 Window coverings. All windows which are visible to the outside shall be
provided with window treatments. Window treatments shall be consistent throughout
each multi-family dwelling structure or development.
1325.06 Requirements for Parking, Loading and Circulation. (Revised 04128108)
Subd. 1 Off-Public Street Parking.
J. Off Street Parking Spaces Required:
Use Required No. of Spaces
Dwelling, single and two-family 2 for each dwelling unit
1.25 for each studio and 1 bedroom; 2.25 for
Dwelling, multiple family each 2+bedroom; and .25 per dwelling unit for
visitor parking
Section 1325—General Regulations
Adopted: November 13,2006
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