PL PACKET 07192022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

May 17, 2022 Page 2 Those 1940s and 1950s homes were designed and built when it was common for households to have (maybe) a single car, and limited need to storage space. Current lifestyles have changed that dramatically, with two or more personal automobiles the norm, and a significant increase in the need (or at least desire) for more personal storage. In some communities, desirable land values have driven a trend (and a concurrent controversy) toward tear-downs and replacement on small single family lots with homes of much larger mass – reduced setbacks, taller multi-story homes that have raised issues of shadowing and neighborhood architectural character. Complicating this exercise further is an interest – and need – in managing stormwater and flood control, which has historically been an issue for the community. Every increase in square footage will have a cumulative impact on treatment of stormwater. Thus, there are certain to be other mitigating factors to consider before any changes are made to lot buildability. Staff has asked the City Engineer to provide some discussion of management techniques the City may consider if increased impervious surface is a limiting design element. In the sketches below, we have created three scenarios for Planning Commission consideration and comment. They represent common – although not every – type of single family lot/building arrangement. Each sketch includes a few options to consider for potential reductions in building setbacks. Each will accommodate some measure of new building opportunities for homeowners, but will also have impacts on both lot usage and neighborhood character. Staff would like to discuss each option at the upcoming Planning Commission meeting to determine the levels of acceptability, and perhaps the pros and cons of each idea. From this discussion, we would hope to gain clarity as to what outstanding questions there might be – and what additional research the Commission would like staff to conduct. Eventually, we hope to arrive at a consensus as to the possible changes, at which time we would prepare formal ordinance language to be considered at a public hearing. For reference, the typical requirements for a single family home in St. Anthony are as follows: Lot Area – 9,000 square feet Corner Lot – 11,000 square feet Lot Width – 75 feet Corner Lot – 90 feet Front Setback – 30 feet from property line(ROW)Corner lot – 30 feet from both rights of way Side Setback – 5 feet minimum, 15 feet total between the two sides Rear Setback – 25 feet, or 20% of the depth of the lot Impervious Surface – 35% for lots >9,000 sf Impervious Surface - 40% for lots <9,000 sf Building Height – 25 feet/2 stories Encroachments – Various site elements (patios, decks, stairs, and other features) generally extend 5 feet into the required front setback, and to a 5 foot setback in side or rear yards