9.h) Staff Report-Ordinance No. 157N
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Memorandum
To: Scandia City Council
Copies To: Kristina Handt, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, Clerk
From: Sherri Buss, RlA Al CP,
Planner
Date: November 11. 2014
Reference: Ordinance Amendments —
Options for Historic Structures
Project No.: 15486.000
Routing:
The City Council discussed the Planning Commission's recommended changes to the
Development Code to encourage the preservation of historic structures at the November
Council meeting and December Workshop meeting. Staff have provided two options for
amending the ordinance based on the discussion at those meetings. The options are attached.
• Both options include changes to the definition for Historic Building and Structure. The
changes are largely editorial, but also include a change from the Washington County
History Network Inventory, which no longer exists, to the Washington County Historical
Society, which maintains a list of historic structures on its website.
Both options include an exception to ordinance requirements to permit historic structures
that exceed the number or square footage of accessory structures, exempt historic
structures from the height requirements, or permit the structures to be located closer to
the roadway than the primary structure, if the structure meets the identified criteria. Staff
have added criteria identified by the Council for granting the exceptions to those that
were identified by the Planning Commission, including the following:
o The exception may be granted only for structures that originate within Scandia or
adjacent communities.
o Only one exception shall be granted to each property in Scandia
o Exceptions shall be granted only for parcels that are 4 acres or larger in size
o Exceptions are permitted only in the Ag Core, Agriculture Preserves, and
General Rural districts.
• Option 1 includes an Administrative Permit to process the exception request. This is the
approach recommended by the Planning Commission, to minimize cost and processing
time for the applicant.
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Scandia City Council
Ordinance Changes for Public Hearing Page 2 December 16, 2014
• Option 2 requires a Conditional Use Permit to process the exception request. This
would include a notice to neighbors, public hearing, and review by the Planning
Commission and Council.
The other changes shown in the drafts were discussed at the last Council meeting, and include
the following:
1) The proposed amendments to Chapter Two, Section 3.0 also include an update to the
table that specifies the number and area of accessory structures permitted by lot size to
clarify the lot sizes included in each category.
2) The proposed amendments to Chapter Two include the addition of the phrase "in
relation to the front lot line" in Section 3.2, item (2) (B) to clarify requirements that
detached accessory structures on corner parcels may not be located closer to the
roadway right-of-way along the front lot line, but may be closer to the right-of-way on the
side lot line of the parcel.
Request for Council Action
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendments to the Development
Code at their meeting on November 5. The Council should review the sections, discuss the
options, and take action at their meeting on December 16.