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Item No: 6A Meeting Date: October 4, 2006 Type of Business: Discussion City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Mounds View Planning Commission From: James Ericson, Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: Review Codes and Regulations Pertaining to Accessory Buildings Introduction: At the September 25, 2006 City Council meeting, residents from the Lois Drive cul-de-sac neighborhood expressed their concerns to the Council regarding large detached second garages which had recently been constructed on neighboring lots. The residents asked the City Council to re-examine the codes relating to the garages and accessory buildings and approve changes to (1) restrict the size, number and height of such buildings, (2) involve the neighbors in ALL such building permit decisions, and (3) establish clear design review guidelines for such buildings. (A comprehensive list of recommendations submitted by Mary Jo Vershay and Mike cardinal is attached for the Commission’s review.) In response to the resident input, the City Council has asked the Planning Commission to initiate a review of the related codes and regulations and to make a determination as to whether amendments should be considered. An Accessory Building is defined by the City Code as a subordinate building which is located on the same lot on which the main building is situated and which is reasonably necessary and incidental to the conduct of the primary use of such building or main use. Examples of accessory buildings include garages, tool houses, carports, sheds and similar outbuildings for storage of domestic supply and noncommercial recreational equipment, whether attached or detached. Discussion: The City of Mounds View regulates the construction of accessory buildings through its adoption of the Minnesota State Building Code, otherwise known as the International Building Code (IBC) and through local land use and zoning control ordinances as promulgated in Title 1100 of the Municipal Code, referred to as the Zoning Code. The State Building Code governs the construction, reconstruction, alteration, and repair of buildings and other structures to which the code is applicable. According to the Department of Building Codes and Standards, the State Code is intended to provide basic and uniform performance standards, establish reasonable safeguards for health, safety, welfare, comfort, and security of the residents of this state and provide for the use of modern methods, devices, materials, and techniques which will in part tend to lower construction costs. The construction of buildings should be permitted at the least possible cost consistent with recognized standards of health and safety. The State Code however does not regulate a building’s size, location or design as these are controls exercised by local zoning authorities.