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MEMORANDUM <br /> DATE: 07/10/02 MEETING DATE: 07/16/02 <br /> TO: Planning Commission Members <br /> FROM: Susan M.H. Hall, Assistant City Manager <br /> SUBJECT: Discuss amendment relating to the definition of"garage" and <br /> "accessory building" and to regulate the size of garages <br /> Background: <br /> On June 25, 2002, a number of residents attended the City Council meeting and had <br /> comments about the subject. It was decided by the City Council that the issue should be <br /> sent back to the Planning Commission for further review and discussion. Please review <br /> the attached minutes regarding the City Council's discussion. <br /> One of the ideas brought forward was to have an architect draw out what the proposed <br /> ordinance change could do to a house from how it is today with the current ordinance. In <br /> other words, how different would it look? Would drawings be helpful to Commissioners <br /> to study this issue? If so, they could be presented as early as next month's Planning <br /> Commission meeting, August 20. The Planning Commission could then make a <br /> recommendation to the City Council to postpone the second and third readings on the <br /> ordinance until after August 20. <br /> Perhaps drawings will not -be necessary; the issue can be studied from a conceptual <br /> level. One thought about the ordinance is that the garage square footage should be left <br /> out of computing the floor area ratio (FAR) all together, like it has been interpreted in the <br /> past. The City Attorney's Office felt the definitions "garage" and "accessory building" <br /> needed clarification. As far as the garage square footage total, it can be either in or out <br /> of the FAR. The Building Official feels that it should be left in, like it has been interpreted <br /> in the past. He thinks doing more changing will create more loopholes, which seem to <br /> exist no matter how the ordinance is written. Finally, another thought is to increase the <br /> floor area ratio from .30 to something larger. <br /> The complaints about the new home at 3501 Downer's Drive pertain to the sheer mass <br /> and height in relation to the rest of the neighborhood. Will the proposed ordinance be <br /> promoting similarly sized homes residents aren't comfortable with? <br /> Staff Recommendation: <br /> Please be prepared to discuss these items and offer a recommendation to the City <br /> Council on July 23. <br /> Attachment: <br /> e Excerpts from June 25, 2002, City Council Minutes <br />