7.a 1 PCMemoAccessoryDwellingUnitsOrdAmendment 5.2.17Memorandum
To: Scandia Planning
Commission
Copies To: Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Reference: Accessory Dwelling Units—
Ordinance Amendment
Project No.: 16323.000
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP, Routing:
Planner
Date: ADril12.2017
The Planning Commission discussed a resident's proposed addition to an existing garage to
accommodate an Accessory Dwelling Unit at the April meeting. The addition would not be
allowed by the current ordinance because the addition would exceed the height of the primary
dwelling on the lot. The Commission requested some options to reconsider the height limits for
detached accessory structures in the ordinance.
The Planner reviewed some of the other community ordinances for accessory dwelling units
when the original ordinance was developed. They included:
• The City of Stillwater and some other communities included a maximum height for
detached accessory structures between 12 and 20 feet. The limits were created to keep
the structures "subordinate" to the primary structure, particularly on smaller lots.
Scandia selected a limit similar to the Stillwater ordinance for the same reason.
Ordinances around the U.S. have typically either required that the accessory structures
not exceed the height of the primary structure, or that they meet the height requirements
for all structures in the ordinance. In communities where there was significant concern
about the impact of tall accessory structures on surrounding properties or the character
of the neighborhood, the communities typically set a maximum height that did not
exceed the primary structure, or a one-story maximum height for detached structures.
However, many of these communities were more "urban" in character than Scandia, with
smaller lot sizes.
There was a discussion during development of the current ordinance that would have
exempted all Accessory Dwelling Units added to existing structures from the height
limits.
• Hugo some other communities with larger lots require Accessory Dwelling Units to meet
the same height standard as other accessory buildings.
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Memorandum
To: Scandia Planning
Commission
Copies To: Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Reference: Accessory Dwelling Units—
Ordinance Amendment
Project No.: 16323.000
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP, Routing:
Planner
Date: ADril12.2017
The Planning Commission discussed a resident's proposed addition to an existing garage to
accommodate an Accessory Dwelling Unit at the April meeting. The addition would not be
allowed by the current ordinance because the addition would exceed the height of the primary
dwelling on the lot. The Commission requested some options to reconsider the height limits for
detached accessory structures in the ordinance.
The Planner reviewed some of the other community ordinances for accessory dwelling units
when the original ordinance was developed. They included:
• The City of Stillwater and some other communities included a maximum height for
detached accessory structures between 12 and 20 feet. The limits were created to keep
the structures "subordinate" to the primary structure, particularly on smaller lots.
Scandia selected a limit similar to the Stillwater ordinance for the same reason.
Ordinances around the U.S. have typically either required that the accessory structures
not exceed the height of the primary structure, or that they meet the height requirements
for all structures in the ordinance. In communities where there was significant concern
about the impact of tall accessory structures on surrounding properties or the character
of the neighborhood, the communities typically set a maximum height that did not
exceed the primary structure, or a one-story maximum height for detached structures.
However, many of these communities were more "urban" in character than Scandia, with
smaller lot sizes.
There was a discussion during development of the current ordinance that would have
exempted all Accessory Dwelling Units added to existing structures from the height
limits.
• Hugo some other communities with larger lots require Accessory Dwelling Units to meet
the same height standard as other accessory buildings.
An employee owned company promoting affirmative action and equal opportunity
Accessory Dwelling Units amendment Page 2 April 12, 2017
Scandia Planning Commission
• Scandia's ordinance is unique in providing exceptions from the height limits for barns,
silos and historic structures.
Some Options for Discussion
Based on the discussion at the last meeting and review of other ordinances, the Planner
provided some options for discussion on the attached copy of the current ordinance. The
options are similar for ADU's that are part of other structures, or for those that are detached
structures, but the City could chose to have a different height standard for the two types of units.
Option 1: allow the height of ADU's located in existing buildings that are taller than the
primary structure to exceed the 20' maximum. Detached ADU's are permitted to be up
to 20' in height (i.e. one story. This could account for building standards such as energy
requirements that may require a higher structure than the existing primary structure, but
keep the structure at a one-story height.)
Option 2: allow the height of Accessory Dwelling Units in all structures to be governed by
the maximum height permitted for all structures.
Option 3: based the permitted structure height on the size of the parcel -20 feet
maximum on parcels that are 0.5 acres or smaller in area, and up to the maximum
permitted structure height on parcels that are larger than 0.5 acres.
Please review the options for discussion at the Planning Commission meeting on May 2.
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