7.b 4a Planner report on amendments to the Development Code for accessory dwelling unitsMemorandum
To:
444 Cedar Street, Suite 1500
Reference: Accessory Dwelling Units
Saint Paul, MN 55101
651.292.4400
tkda.cam
Amendment
Copies To:
TKDA
Memorandum
To:
Scandia City Council
Reference: Accessory Dwelling Units
Ordinance—Ordinance
Amendment
Copies To:
Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Project No.: 16323.000
From:
Sherri Buss, RLA AICP,
Routing:
Planner
Date:
June 13, 2017
Background and Planning Commission Recommendation
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 Development Code because the addition would exceed the height of the primary
dwelling on the lot. The Commission reviewed the performance standards for Accessory
Dwelling Units, and discussed several options for revising the ordinance and setting a
reasonable standard.
The Commission noted that the standard that limited the height of Accessory Dwelling Units was
intended to keep the structures subordinate to the primary structure on a parcel. However,
since other Accessory Buildings are permitted to be the same height as primary structures, or
higher in the case of some agricultural and historic structures, the lower height for Accessory
Dwelling Units created inconsistencies among accessory buildings that did not seem to serve
the intended purpose well or permit Accessory Dwelling Units in existing structures.
The Commission concluded at the June meeting that the limitation on the area of Accessory
Dwelling Units is adequate to keep them subordinate to the primary dwelling on the property.
The Commission recommended that the Development Code be amended to permit the height
standards for Accessory Dwelling Units to be the same as those for other Accessory Structures.
Request for Council Action
The Planning Commission recommends that the Council consider the proposed ordinance
amendment at its meeting on June 20, and approve the amendment to permit the height
standards for Accessory Dwelling Units to be the same as the standards for other Accessory
Structures.
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