09-63Amended 1/14/2009
Council File # 09-63
Green Sheet # 3Di�� QQ�
1 Statement of Le¢islative Intent and Findin�s in Support of Interim Ordinance and Imposition of
2 Interim Regulations Pending Formal Adoution of Interim Ordinance:
3 Whereas, the City's department of planning and economic development and department of safety
4 and inspections have begun to explore options far more thoroughly incorporating residential design
5 standards into tl�e City's existing land use standards and procedures as set forth under the City's zoning
6 ordinance; and
7 Whereas, the exploration of residential design standard options was undertaken in light of the current
8 crisis in residential housing conditions which include increasing housing vacancy, abandonment,
9 foreclosure and demolition; and
10 Whereas, demolition of substandard housing stock in the City's residential neighborhoods creates
11 vacant lots within affected neighborhoods that may already be impacted by disproportionately high
12 numbers of vacant lots; and
13 Whereas, the same neighborhoods with disproportionately high numbers of vacant lots are also often
14 the same neighborhoods with disproportionately high numbers of housing stock that has been found to be
15 in a vacant or nuisance condition and, therefore, at risk of demolition; and
16 Whereas, the City's unique mix of neighborhoods reflects a range of housing options which provide
17 an attractive diversity of housing choices throughout the City; and
18 Whereas, the Council finds that the City's single-family and two-fainily residential districts
19 represent the primary component of the City's land use and that the appeazance of single-family and two-
20 family residential structures, especially from a"street elevation," is intrinsically related to the preservation
21 of neighborhood character and quality of life. The Council further finds that the adoption of design
22 standards for single-family and two-family residential structures would promote the public health, welfaze
23 and safety and are reasonably related to the legitimate governmental purpose of achieving and maintaining
24 attractive neighborhoods and an efficiently functioning and prosperous city; and
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25 Whereas, the Council finds that the City's present official controls regulating the construction of
2b sin�le-family and two-family residential structures inadequately protects the current public health, welfare,
27 and safety as the present official controls specifically exclude single-Family and two-family residential
28 construction from the more rigorous site p1an review under Leg. Code § 61.402 and general design
29 standards review under Leg. Code § 63.110; and
30 Whereas, the Council finds, in light of the inirial exploration of design standards undertaken by the
31 department of planning and economic development and the department of safety and inspections, that the
32 increased likelihood for new development of single-family and two-family residential structures on
33 existing or newly created vacant lots within existing neighborhoods, where the street elevation of such
34 structures would not be in keeping with the preservation of neighborhood character or quality of life due to
35 the lack of ability to regulate the appearance of such structures under the present zoning ordinance, that an
36 interim ordinance, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462.355, Subd. 4, is necessary to preserve neighborhood
37 character and quality of life in the City pending the Council's receipt and action upon a formal study and
38 report to be undertaken by the planning commission pursuant to this Resolution describing design
39 standards for single-family and rivo-family residential construction that relate to and aze compatible with
40 the surrounding neighborhood; Now, Therefore,
41 Be It Resolved, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul directs the planning commission to
42 undertake and prepare a formal study and report regarding options far design standards far the regulation
43 of single-family and two-family residential structures and to report the same to the Council before the
44 expiration of the interim ordinance under Minn. Stat. § 462355, Subd. 4; and
45 Be It Further Resolved, pending a formal study and report from the planning commission regarding
46 the adoption of design standards as described above and pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462.355, Subd. 4, no
47 building permit may be issued until such time as the permit applicant has complied with the following
48 interim regulations:
49 A. Applicants for building permits for single-family and two-family residential structures shall abide by
50 the following regulations which, for the purposes of constructing such structures, shall supersede current
51 regulations applied to such structure permits under the following sections of the zoning code: Leg. Code
52 § § 61.401 and 63.110.
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53 1. Sec.61.401. Site plan review generallv
54 A site plan shall be submitted to and approved by the zoning administrator before building permits
55 aze issued for new buildings or building expansions. Building permit applications for new buildings or
56 building expansions shall be accompanied by a site plan and building elevations drawn to scale and
57 showing the following:
58 (1) The actual shape, location and dimensions of the zoning lot.
59 (2) The shape, size and location of all buildings or other structures to be erected, altered, or moved and
60 of any building or other structures already on the zoning lot.
61 (3) The exisfing and intended use of the zoning lot and of all such structures upon it, including for
62 residential uses, the number of dwelling units the building is intended to accommodate.
63 (4) Such other information concerning the zoning lot or adjoining lots as may be determined by the
64 zoning administratar as essential for determining whether the provisions of this code are being
65 observed.
66 2. Sec. 63.110. General desi¢n standards.
67 The following design standards shall be used uiIless the applicant can demonstrate that there are
68 circumstances unique to the property that makes compliance impractical or unreasonable.
69 (a) Primary entrances on principal shuctures shall face the primary abutting public street or be linked to
7Q that street by a cleazly defined and visible walkway ar courtyard. Additional secondary entrances
71 may be oriented to a secondary street or parking area. Primary entries shall be clearly visible and
72 identifiable from the street, and delineated with elements such as roof overhangs, recessed entries,
73 landscaping, or similar design features. Any sides of building facing an abutting public street should
74 use the same building materials and other architectural treatments as principal facades.
75 (b) New development should relate to the design of adjacent traditional buildings, where these are
76 present, in scale and character. This can be done through such means as similar setbacks, facade
77 divisions, roof lines, rhythui and proportions of openings, building materials and colors. Historic
78 architectural styles need not be replicated.
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79 (c) Residential uses at street level shall generally be set back far enough from the street to provide a yard
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area between the public sidewalk and the front door. Landscaping, steps, porches, grade changes,
and low ornamental fences or walls may be used to provide increased privacy and livability for first
82 floor units.
83 (d) For principal residential buildings, above grade window and door openings shall comprise at least ten
84 (10) percent of the total area of all exterior walls and '�- ��ra�� fifteen (15� percent of the total area
85 of exteriar walls (excluding the area of garage doors) facing a public street or sidewalk.
86 (e) For residential parking, the following standards shall apply:
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(1) Off-street parking spaces shall not be located within a front yard or non-interior side yard.
Except in the reaz yard, garages that face and front on a public street shall be set back from
abutting public streets at least as far as the principal structure (in the case of attached garages,
this refers to the non-garage part of the principle structure) and garage doors shall not exceed
sixty (60) percent of the width of the principal shucture. Except in the rear yard, garage doars
facing a public street sl�all be no more than nine (9) feet in height.
(2) For one-family through four-family and townhouse dwellings, access to off-street parking shall
be from an abutting improved alley when available. On corner lots, access to parking in the
rear yard may be from Yhe side street.
(3) For one-family through four-family dwellings, and for townhouses with garage doors that face
and front on a public street, driveways in front yards shall be no more than twelve (12) feet in
width. A driveway apron up to four (4) feet wider than the garage doar may extend thirty (30)
feet from the garage before reducing to a width of twelve (12) feet.
The number of curb cuts shall be minimized, and shared curb cuts for adjacent parking areas are
encouraged.
102 B. For the puxposes of consistency with the puxpose and intent of the interim ordinance, Leg. Code §
103 63.316 shall be read as set forth below:
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105 1. Sec.63316. Pavin�.
106 All parldng spaces, driveways and off-sireet parking facilities shall be paved with asphalt or other
107 durable, dustless surfacing, or e€material comparable to the adjacent street surfacing, in accordance with
108 other specifications of the zoning administrator. The parking area shall be paved within one (1) year of the
109 date of the permit except as provided in section 61.402(e). The total amount of surface parking far one-
110 family and two-family dwellings shall not exceed fifteen (15) percent of the lot area.
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112 AND, Be It Finally Resolved, that the interim regulations imposed under this Resolution shall expire
113 automatically upon the effective date of that £ormal interim ordinance introduced separately and adopted
114 pursuant to the requirements of the Saint Paul City Charter.
Bostrom
Carter
Hanis
Thune
Adopted by Council: Date
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Adoprion Certified by C uncil Secreta.ry U
By: _/�/"1/� i
Approved by }�I or: Date /- 2!-(� C
B �`.:'`y.�/�'u .�
Requested by Deparhnent of:
B
Approved by the Office of Financial Services
By:
Approved b� City A omey
By: %���'�'�^G --� l—l�-l-09
Approved y Mayor for Submission to Council
BY � 3F/�1���
09-63
� Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet �
CO - Council
14-JAN-09 � Green Sheet NO: 3066004
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ConWct Person 8 Phone:
Jennifer Dunn
6-8657
Must Be on Council Agenda by (Date):
14-JAN-09
Doc. Type: RESOLUTION
E-Document Required: Y
DocumentConWCt: DonnaSanders
ConWCt Phone: 6-8650
7oWl # of Signature Pages _(Clip All Locations for Signature)
Action Requested:
Statement of Legislative Inte�t and Findings in Support of In[erim Ordinance and Imposi[ion of Interim Regu]ations Pending Formal
Adoption of Interim Ordinance.
Recommendati0ns: Approve (A) or Rejecl (R):
Planning Commission
CIB Committee
Civil Service Commission
Personal Service Contrects Must Answer the Following Questions:
1. Has this person/firtn ever worked under a contract for this department?
Yes No
2. Has this person/firm ever been a ciry employee?
Yes No
3. Does this person/firm possess a skill not normally possessed by any
current city employee?
Yes No
Explain all yes answers on separete sheet and attach to green sheet.
Initiating Problem, Issues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
Advantages If Approved:
Disadvantages If Approved:
Disadvantages If Not Approved:
ToWI Amount of
Trensaction:
Funding Source:
Financial Information:
(Explain)
January 14, 2009 11:13 AM
Cost/Revenue Budgeted:
Activity Number:
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