HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 4, 2005PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 4, 200X ~
7:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.
Roll Call:
Present: Baker, Schmitt, Szurek, & Peterson
Absent: Fiorendino ".
Also present were Pat Smith (City Planner) and Bobby Williams (Council Liaison). Planner
Smith was named Secretary Pro-Tem for the meeting.
Motion by Baker, second by Szurek, to approve the minutes from December 7, 2004 as written.
All Ayes. MOTION PASSED.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Duplexes in the R-2 Zoning Ordinance
Pat Smith gave a presentation on duplexes in the city. The City Council and Planning
Commission have expressed concerns regarding the following items:
1. Duplexes located in predominately single-family neighborhoods.
2. The scale or size of duplexes being constructed compared to the character of the
surrounding neighborhood.
3. The design of the new duplexes being constructed.
4. The number of duplexes being rented.
5. Utility fees being charged to duplexes.
The Planning Commission will look at the first three concerns while the Fire Department and
Finance Department will address the last two concerns at a later date.
Based on rental licenses, Columbia Heights has 354 duplexes. Of these 59% (209) are located on
non-conforming lots, and 18% (63) have been converted fi:om a single-family home into a
duplex.
In addition, staff surveyed 12 similarly developed cities. Columbia Heights has the highest
percentage of dwelling units that are duplexes, 6.7%. The average percentage of duplex units is
2.3%. Columbia Heights has the second smallest minimum lot size for duplexes at 8,400 square
feet. The average required lot size for a duplex in a R-2 zoning district is 12,130 square feet.
Staff recommends rezoning duplexes that were originally constructed as such to R-2B and the
rest of R-2 as R-2A. Duplexes should be permitted in both R-2B and R-2A as conditional uses.
Minimum lot size for Duplexes in R-2A should be 12,000 square feet. Minimum lot size for R-
2B duplexes should be 5,100 square feet for lots existing on January 1, 2005, or 12,000 square
feet for lots established after January 1, 2005.
PLANNING & ZONING
PAGE 2
JANUARY 4, 2005
Staff also recommends adding additional conditions for duplexes:
1. Street-facing garage doors must be recessed behind either the front faqade of the living
area portion of the dwelling or a Covered porch (measuring at least six feet by eight feet)
by at least five feet.
2. If located on a comer lot, each unit of the duplex shall have its address and entrance
oriented to a separate street frontage.
3. Vehicle access to a lot must be from an alley if the lot abuts an alley.
4. The length of the garage wall facing the street may be up to 50% of the length of the
street-facing building fagade.
Commission member Schmitt questioned if these provisions applied to duplexes only, or does it
include twin-homes.
Smith answered that the new ordinance would apply to both duplexes and twin homes.
Schmitt felt an attempt should be made to get homes that fit into the neighborhood.
Peterson likes the idea that duplexes are conditional uses. And he agreed that Developers are not
designing duplexes that fit the neighborhood.
Schmitt stated she likes the idea that duplexes are conditional uses because the more people that
look at the plans, the more likely someone will catch something.
Baker questioned why we would allow originally constructed duplexes to be conforming?
Smith responded that staff thought that.' people who buy an originally constructed duplex should
be able to get their investment back. Plus, it's easier to convert a single-family home that's been
converted into a duplex back to a single-family home. It's more difficult for an originally-
constructed duplex.
Szurek thought the proposed ordinance is a good idea. She expressed her frustration with the
amount of single-family residences that are being rented. She asked if there was any way of
reducing rental property?
Smith informed the commission that State law allows people to rent their homes.
Peterson thought the best way to reduce the number of rentals is to encourage and force
homeowners to maintain and improve their property so that the property values increase.
PLAN~NiNG & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
PAGE 3
JANUARY 4, 2005
2005 Training Schedule
Szurek asked if the schedule was set in stone or is flexible.
Smith responded that the schedule is supposed to be flexible. We will try to have the training
after each regular Planning Commission meeting up until 9:30. Anything that we don't get to
will be discussed at the following meeting.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Peterson informed the members that the City Council is helping to build the Neighborhood
Watch Program and the Civilian Emergency Response Team. People should call the Fire or
Police Chiefs if they are interested.
Schmitt told the others that there is a subdivision in Stillwater that prohibits the third stall of a
three-car garage to face the street. There was some discussion regarding this.
Motion by Baker, seconded by Szurek to nominate $zurek as the chair and $chmitt the vice.-chair
for 2005. There were no other nominations. All ayes. MOTION PASSED.
Smith reminded the members the vice-chair is not an official position until the ordinance is
amended to allow the position, but will serve as the back up for running the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully sul~nitted,