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Home My WebLink About10-29-07 Item 4K, Floor Area Definition Prepared By: James Lehnhoff Dept.: -'(;()I11_mu_l1itYnDe__ 1_ PI11.f3iit-- Council Mtg. Date: ... U uu ...... . j(j-2!j:oi ... - Final Action Needed By: Agenda Item: 4.K ~ ~HlLLS Request for Council Action Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: .... Funding ~"~~Jl[~tijj""jlRJi.!!Q~t1~jm,j(~j(j(~.k1ili"SjllL______ iMotion to Approve Ordinance 387 in Planning Case 07..()26 to Amend the Definition of Floor Area in Section 1305.04 Subd 67 of the Zoning: iCode as Presented in the October 29, 2007, Planning Case Report. ' ~~tf1~~gg~ffil~iq~_~f9J}I~1~li0E~~_lli_iliUl?il0~t_____n___"_...............____n____n____...................n.n_________,,__,,................__.._______n"""....................n..__________.."."..................._______.__,,_....................____n_______..............n_.._______n__"................._____________""..........____________"_"",,.............___nn' iMotion to Approve Ordinance 387 in Planning Case 07-026 to Amend the Definition of Floor Area in Section 1305.04 Subd 67 of the Zoning! i Code as Presented in the October 29, 2007, Planning Case Report. . October 29, 2007, Memo to the City Council Resolution No.: X Ordinance No.: 387 iEngineering Recommendation: ...._--_.-"..__._._._-_......_-~_._-_..._-""._-._"...- 'Attorney Recommendation: ;x 10ther: -,,----.... .--.-- 4K-1: Draft Planning Commission m-fnutes ....- - - -----.. .......------ 4K-2: Ordinance 387 ......... -- - - - .... .... - - - _L~.~.:l.:.J~~t~_~_~.!.~9.._9_~_~.~....~~.pg_~n_Q.!.~.?~Jf?__!.~.~...~J.C!r!~_i.~.9...~.9.~!!I"i.~.~.!..t?_!l_.___ !_-",,: None. None. ~ ~~HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: October 29, 2007 CC Agenda Item 4.K TO: Mayor & City Council FROM: James Lehnhoff, City Plann# SUBJECT: Planning Case #07-026 Zoning Code Amendment: Floor Area Definition City of Arden Hills 1245 West Highway 96 Reauest Motion to Approve Ordinance 387 in Planning Case 07-026 to Amend the Definition of Floor Area in Section 1305.04 Subd 67 of the Zoning Code as Presented in the October 29, 2007, Planning Case Report. Backe:round In November 2006, the City re-codified the Zoning Code, which included a number minor and legally required updates. However, the Zoning Code is an evolving document that needs to be reviewed, updated, and clarified to ensure the spirit, intent, and goals of the Code are being met. As time allows, Staffwill be proposing updates and changes the Zoning Code to make it clearer and more effective. The floor area ratio (FAR) is one of the primary tools that are used to limit the bulk of a principle building on a property. The other tools include minimum landscaping requirements, impervious coverage limits, setback requirements, and building height limits. FAR manages the bulk of a structure by limiting how much total floor area can be constructed on a property. While the intent of the floor area ratio regulation is fairly straightforward and the calculation itself is not complicated, applying the regulation in Arden Hills is cumbersome because of the Zoning Code's definition for what is included in floor area. Therefore, Staff and the Planning Commission are recommending amending the definition of floor area as follows: Subd. 67 Floor area. The sum of the gross horizontal area of all floors of a building as measured in square feet from the exterior sides of the exterior walls, or from the centerline of \1Metro-inet.us\ardenhillslPlanninglPlanning Cases\2007\07-026 Far Defn Zoning Amendment (PC Approval)\J02907 - CC Report - FAR Ordinance amendment. doc Page 10f2 party walls separating attached buildings, but not including covered porches that meet the requirements in Section 1325.03 Subd 2.0; decks; any space where the average floor-to-ceiling height is less than six feet; attached or detached garages; and other detached accessory structures. Additional information about the current definition of floor area and how to calculate the floor area ratio is in the report to the Planning Commission (attachment 4X-2). Options 1. Approve the proposal as submitted. 2. Approve the proposal with changes. 3. Deny the proposal. 4. Table for additional information. If approved, the Zoning Code amendment will not go into effect until it is published in the November 7,2007, edition ofthe Shoreview Arden Hills Bulletin. Attachments 4K-1 4K-2 4K-3 Draft Planning Commission Minutes Ordinance 387 October 3, 2007, Report to the Planning Commission- htto://www.ci.arden-hills.mn.us \lMetro-inet.uslardenhills\PlanningIPlanning Cases\2007\07-026 Far Defn Zoning Amendment (PC Approval)\102907 - CC Report - FAR Ordinance amendment.doc Page 2 0[2 Attachment 4K -1 Draft Planning Commission Meeting Minutes From October 3, 2007 October 29,2007, City Council Meeting ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - OCTOBER 3, 2007 17 F. PLANNING CASE # 07-026 - ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THE DEFINITION OF FLOOR AREA; CITY OF ARDEN HILLS. 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96- PUBLIC HEARING Mr. Lehnhoff submitted a text amendment to the definition of floor area. He then provided background information and said staff recommends approval. Chair Sand opened the floor to Commission questions. Commissioner Larson inquired if lot coverage is a separate issue from floor area. Mr. Lehnhoff stated that floor area is different from overall lot coverage. Floor area limits the bulk of a building. Commissioner Holewa inquired when the current regulation was enacted. Mr. Lehnhoff stated that he thinks it may have been in 1991 when the current ordinance was adopted. Commissioner Holewa stated that it may have been at a time when there weren't as many attached garages. Commissioner Larson inquired if Staff was happy with the definition. Mr. Lehnhoff stated staff is comfortable with the proposed definition. Chair Sand opened the public hearing at 9: II p.m. Chair Sand invited anyone for or against the application to come forward and make comment. Chair Sand closed the public hearing at 9: II p.m. Commissioner Zimmerman moved, seconded by Commissioner Holewa, to recommend approval of Planning Case #07-026, Zoning Code Text Amendment for the Defmition of Floor Area, Section 1305.04, as presented in staff's October 3, 2007 report. The motion carried unanimously (7-0). This Planning Case will be reviewed at the Monday, October 29, 2007, City Council meeting. October 29,2007, City Council Meeting Attachment 4K -2 Ordinance #387 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. 387 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DEFINITION OF FLOOR AREA The Arden Hills City Council hereby ordains that Section 1305.04 Subd 67, the definition for floor area, shall be amended to read as follows: Section 1305.04 Subd 67 Floor Area. The sum of the gross horizontal area of all floors of a building as measured in square feet from the exterior sides of the exterior walls, or from the centerline of party walls separating attached buildings, but not including covered porches that meet the requirements in Section 1325.03 Subd 2.D; decks; any space where the average floor-to-ceiling height is less than six feet; attached or detached garages; and other detached accessory structures. A copy of the Ordinance is available for inspection by any person during regular business hours at the office of the City Administrator, 1245 West Highway 96, Arden Hills, Minnesota 55112. The Ordinance is also available online at http://www.ci.arden-hills.mn.us. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective the day following its publication. Adoption Date. Passed by the City Council of the City of Arden Hills the 29th day of October, 2007. STANHARPSTEAD, MAYOR ATTEST: MICHELLE WOLFE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Publication Date: I Attachment 4K-3 Report to the Planning Commission From October 3, 2007. Available online at: http://www.ci.arden-hills.mn.us/nlanningcases October 29,2007, City Council Meeting