7.b iii.1 CouncilMemoOrdinanceAmendmentsStorageParking 1.17.17
Memorandum
To: Scandia Planning
Commission
Reference: Public Hearing Exterior Storage,
Parking-Related, and Accessory
Structures Ordinance
Amendments
Copies To: Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Project No.: 16023.000
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP,
Planner
Routing:
Date: December 20, 2016
The Planning Commission has been working for several months on amendments to sections of
the Development Code that address exterior storage and parking. The discussion has also
included some recommended changes to the accessory structure ordinance to address storage
structures. The City Administrator and Deputy requested the discussion of these sections of the
Code based on common enforcement issues and lack of clarity on storage and parking
standards in the current code. They identified sections where they believe changes are needed,
provided numerous examples that illustrated typical issues, and made recommendations for
change based on the need for clearer and more enforceable ordinance standards.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed amendments at its January
meeting. The Commission received one comment requesting clarification of the standards for
guest parking, and made a change to that section based on the comment.
The proposed amendments to the Development Code include:
Added a definition for “motor vehicle” and use this term rather than “vehicle” throughout
the ordinance, to clarify that vehicles such as bicycles and other small non-motorized
vehicles do not need to be regulated.
Improved the definition for “Motor Vehicle, Abandoned” based on the Deputy’s request
for a more specific definition.
Revised the definition of Recreational Vehicle (LRV) to specify that Large Recreational
Vehicles (LRVs) will be regulated, and remove vehicles like canoes from the definition.
The LRV definition proposed is the same as the City of Hugo’s definition.
Changed the definitions of Front, Side and Rear Yards, so that the side yards no long
extend the whole length of the property from the front lot line to the rear lot line. The
change in definitions better expresses the locations within the yard areas where the City
will allow storage.
Updated the Accessory Structures section of the ordinance for storage sheds as follows:
Exterior Storage and Parking Code Amendments Page 2 January 17, 2017
Scandia City Council
o Clarifies where accessory structures may be located on lakeshore parcels
o Permits parcels that have limited rear and side yards to locate a storage structure
between the house and the road right-of-way, with an administrative permit, as
long as setbacks and impervious cover requirements are met.
o Updates the section to reference the Accessory Dwelling Unit section of the code
o Clarifies the section that permits a detached garage on parcels that have no
attached garage. This includes a requirement that the property must have space
available for a primary and secondary septic system to meet County
requirements outside the garage area.
o Clarifies the section on ice fishing houses to not that they may be stored on land
during non-winter (rather than “summer”) months.
Updated the section on Abandoned, Unlicensed, Discarded or Junked Motor Vehicles as
requested by the Deputy to make enforcement easier.
Specified the standards for storage of Large Recreational Vehicles, including the number
of vehicles that may be stored and locations permitted for storage. The standards vary
for parcels that are lakeshore parcels, and propose different standards for parcels that
are less than one-half acre and more than one-half acre in size.
Amended the standards to permit parking of visitor and guest vehicles on boulevards
and open yard areas for up to 72 hours, and placed the requirements for storage of
residential and agricultural vehicles in the “Exterior Storage” section of the code rather
than the Parking section, which focuses on commercial parking.
Amended the Code to permit storage of personal property and storage and parking of
vehicles on vacant parcels that are adjacent to a lot under common ownership.
The Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the Development Code
amendments at its meeting on January 17.