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Regular Planning Commission Meeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, June 5, 2013 <br />Page 13 <br />Mr. Paschke advised that some do, and some are even more specific, especially newer <br />602 <br />and often larger communities designed around park settings and homes set further <br />603 <br />forward on a lot, with garages tucked back. Mr. Paschke referenced a recent large <br />604 <br />Disney housing development that had been designed around that concept, and others <br />605 <br />littered throughout the United States, including many in MN. While not sure if the term <br />606 <br />“trend” was applicable, Mr. Paschke advised that the intent was to provide some <br />607 <br />regulation where there had not previously been any and to meet the community desires <br />608 <br />to have certain designs for whatever reason. To the extent legislation was created, Mr. <br />609 <br />Paschke note that the ability was available to have a City and/or its residential community <br />610 <br />appear a certain way. Mr. Paschke reiterated that the majority of Roseville residences <br />611 <br />already achieve the requirements implemented since 2010; and while concurring with <br />612 <br />Member Boguszewski on some points, he could not say whether or not one design was <br />613 <br />better than another, simply that these standards got to the core of what was trying to be <br />614 <br />achieved. Mr. Paschke again noted the data from building permits that provided a good <br />615 <br />track record. <br />616 <br />Member Boguszewski noted the recent variance request before the Variance Board for <br />617 <br />the proposed home as referenced by Mr. Paschke, stating that he had voted with the <br />618 <br />majority to deny that variance, based on being unconvinced that the proposed design <br />619 <br />was the only feasible one for that site, with the builder presenting it as the only design <br />620 <br />option that would allow pricing to sell a home. While not thinking that jury nullification of <br />621 <br />an existing law was necessarily always wrong, Member Boguszewski suggested caution <br />622 <br />in dictating design standards for residences. <br />623 <br />Member Boguszewski opined that his fundamental disagreement was with the concept <br />624 <br />that placement of the front face of a garage is a major contributor to street aesthetics or <br />625 <br />that the City should be addressing it at all. While recognizing that only one (1) appeal had <br />626 <br />been received since the new standards were adopted in 2010, Member Boguszewski <br />627 <br />noted that his perception may not stand, since everyone else had apparently read the <br />628 <br />ordinance. In reviewing current housing stock, and based on his own split level home with <br />629 <br />flush front garage, Member Boguszewski opined that his neighborhood had a residential <br />630 <br />look. However, Member Boguszewski opined that it was more due to the aesthetics or <br />631 <br />architectural components of those homes and landscaping versus the location of the <br />632 <br />garage. Member Boguszewski opined that locating the garage forward and front-facing <br />633 <br />was not a determining factor in the feel of a block, especially when the majority of homes <br />634 <br />in a neighborhood were of that design. <br />635 <br />If the City chose to address the design standards, Member Boguszewski suggested that <br />636 <br />the only standard should be related to location of the garage and home to front setbacks <br />637 <br />and sidewalks; or at a maximum that more flexibility be allowed if not eliminated <br />638 <br />completely, which would be his first preference. Member Boguszewski noted that this <br />639 <br />preference is not because he didn’t believe aesthetics should be addressed; however, he <br />640 <br />just didn’t think these particular design standards contributed or detracted from a home’s <br />641 <br />aesthetics. <br />642 <br />Member Stellmach expressed his personal support of the design standards, whether or <br />643 <br />not a “snout house” was someone’s preferred design or not. Member Stellmach stated <br />644 <br />that he did not personally like a home’s focus or emphasis on the garage. If the <br />645 <br />Commission was to consider staff’s recommendations in Section 5.0 of the report, <br />646 <br />Member Stellmach expressed concern with the third bullet point, specifically how <br />647 <br />expansive that exception could be, or if there was any concern that garages could then <br />648 <br />cover 100% of the front of a home. <br />649 <br />Mr. Paschke responded that it would not limit your design preference, with a minimum <br />650 <br />setback of 30’, and this would be 20’ beyond that, otherwise you would lose the sense of <br />651 <br />place or what the code was trying to achieve with garage setbacks if the entire structure <br />652 <br />was setback. Mr. Paschke noted that there were minimal deep lots that could achieve this <br />653 <br />requirement; but could provide a way to not restrict or limit completely all lots in Roseville <br />654 <br />in having a home forward/garage back; and if the ability was there to set the structure <br />655 <br /> <br />