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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"