5.e 1 Exterior Storage and ParkingMemorandum
To:
444 Cedar Street, Suite 1500
Reference: Exterior Storage, Recreational
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Commission
651.292.4400
tkda.cam
Requirements—Continuing
TKDA
Discussion of Ordinance
Memorandum
To:
Scandia Planning
Reference: Exterior Storage, Recreational
Commission
Vehicle, and Parking
Requirements—Continuing
Discussion of Ordinance
Amendments
Copies To:
Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Project No.: 16023.000
From:
Sherri Buss, RLA AICP,
Routing:
Planner
Date:
November 22, 2016
The Planning Commission discussed a number of issues related to the exterior storage and
parking ordinances at the November meeting. This memo focuses on the issues that remain
after that discussion, and provides some new options to address problems that the City is
experiencing related to the enforcement of the current code requirements.
The City has had a long-standing policy of requiring residents to store most materials, vehicles,
and equipment (with a few exceptions noted in the Development Code) within buildings or a
screened area so they are not visible from public streets or adjacent properties. Enforcement of
the exterior storage requirement has been based on complaints. This has led to uneven
enforcement of the requirement throughout the City.
Neil will provide some aerial photos that show examples of the difficult day-to-day enforcement
issues that the City faces, so that we can use those to consider how the ordinance could be
updated to address these concerns.
• Some of the most difficult issues occur on small parcels where physical issues on the
parcel (such as steep slopes in side and back yards) or the placement of the house
toward the rear of the lot make it difficult for residents to add storage structures to
comply with the ordinance requirement.
• The same issues occur on large parcels where the house is setback from the roadway
so that the location for storage structures is limited.
The proposed ordinance amendments include the following items for discussion at the Planning
Commission meeting on December 6:
An employee owned company promoting affirmative action and equal opportunity
Exterior Storage and Parking Regulations Page 2 December 6, 2016
Scandia Planning Commission
Definitions (Ordinance Chapter 1)
A new definition is proposed for impervious surfaces per Commission request. The first
definition listed is the City's current definition. The second is a Watershed District
definition. The major differences between the two are:
o Watershed definition includes surfaces "likely to become compacted from
expected use. The City took this into consideration for some variances in
Shoreland areas that wanted to use pavers where the District recommended
against this because the surface was likely to become compacted and clogged
with sediment over time.
o The Watershed definition clearly includes non -paved surfaces such as
compacted gravel, Class 5, etc. Civil engineers and surface water modeling
programs consider these surfaces to be just as impervious as paved surfaces.
The City's current definition uses the term "hard" surfaces, which is not as explicit
as the Watershed definition.
• New definitions proposed to separate Large Recreational Vehicles from smaller vehicles
and Recreational Equipment. The first definition is the City of Hugo's definition. The
second definition is the City of St. Paul definition.
The Scandia definitions and Hugo definitions are included for Front, Rear and Side
Yards. A sketch attached shows the City's current definition and the proposed definition
graphically. Please consider the definitions as you review the exterior storage
requirements. The definitions can be complex to understand because they require the
reader to review additional definitions such as "front lot line." This is typical in most
ordinances. With the sketch available, are the definitions understandable?
Accessory Structures Ordinance (Development Code Chapter 2, Section 3.2)
• This section includes a new item that would permit an accessory structure in the front
yard on a small parcel (less than 5 acres) so that a property owner could meet the
exterior storage requirements of the ordinance if she is unable to place the building in
the side or rear yard due to physical constraints on the property.
• The section includes a requirement for an administrative permit to approve the structure
on small parcels. (If there are real physical constraints to the building location, the
structure may meet the criteria for a variance, but given the City's preferences for indoor
storage, the number of parcels that might need a variance to meet the requirement, and
the cost of getting a variance, we have suggested an administrative permit to encourage
more compliance.)
• The structure would need to meet setback and imDervious cover reauirements.
• Neil will provide some aerial photos of specific situations in Scandia where this
amendment might be useful.
Environmental Regulations—Nuisances (Development Code Chapter 2, Section 3.3)
• Several language changes are suggested to better define nuisance vehicles and permit
enforcement.
I
Exterior Storage and Parking Regulations Page 3 December 6, 2016
Scandia Planning Commission
Exterior Storage (Ordinance Chapter 2, Section 3.4)
Neil will provide some examples that illustrate the difficulties the City is having in apply the
current ordinance.
Some options to address the difficulties include:
• Take the Exterior Storage standards out of the ordinance. This may be an option if the
City is unwilling or not able to enforce the ordinance.
• Small parcels (less than 5 acres): Permit variances to allow accessory storage structures
in front yards, or adopt the amendment identified above to the Accessory Structures
section of the Development Code to make it possible to add storage structures in front
yards on parcels where it is not possible to put them in side or rear yards.
• On larger parcels (5 acres or larger), the ordinance currently permits accessory structure
in the front yard if they are at least 200 feet from the right-of-way.
• Permit storage of 1 or 2 LRV's or RCV's on properties with criteria shown for
o Lakeshore parcels (boats, docks and lifts can be stored outside on the lake side
between November 1 and May 30)
o Parcels one acre or less in size (1 LRV or RVC in the side or rear lot)
o Parcels two acres or less in size (up to 2 LRVs or RVC's in the side or rear lot
• The Commission should discuss whether screening should be required for LRV's or
RVC's that are visible from public roadways or adjacent properties.
• The section on off-street parking in residential and agricultural areas has been moved
from the Parking section of the Code to this Section.
Parking (Development Code Chapter 2, Section 3.10)
• Updated to include additional description of vehicles that may not be stored outside.
7
S106
Im
j�ln•rl� -�
LING
Swel Ptlwvf�
mc -
,M& 5v
l.tNC-
N kkr $er�.
14M
�-Fltwrw4q
um
WagFoil))VA
Nn Owl
ry7lbnt1"