Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Date: September 15, 2022
To: Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals
From: Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Title
Consider Resolution for Building Area Ratio Variances for the Bluff View Subdivision.
Body
Action Requested:
The Zoning Board of Appeals is requested to consider an increase of the allowable percentage of building coverage from 30% to 46% for 34 lots of the Bluff View Subdivision, located in Blocks 1, 2, and 3.
Summary Report:
Bluff View is zoned Neighborhood General 2 (N2) and is located west of Maple St S along Ford St E and Aspen St on the southern Northfield border. The subdivision is platted for 46 new residential lots. The Bluff View subdivision final plat was approved on August 2, 2021.
The applicant plans to construct one-story two-family homes on Blocks 1-3 in addition to fourplexes on Block 3. Lot size for the three blocks ranges from 4,829 square feet (SF) to 7,998 SF. A goal of the Land Development Code (LDC) and Comprehensive Plan is to create higher density. These smaller lots meet that goal, but constrain the size of the home. Allowing flexibility from 30% building area ratio (BAR) up to 46% BAR helps to achieve this density, while maintaining a marketable building size that also meets LDC setbacks. The BAR includes the footprint of the principal building (which included the attached garage), detached garage, and covered porches as a percentage of the total lot area. The applicant has provided a rendering and chart, outlining the proposed building layouts and the requested coverage of 46% BAR, attached to the staff report. In addition, the applicant has provided updated stormwater calculations with the proposed building coverage, attached to the staff report. The City Public Works and Engineering Department has reviewed the applicant's memo and stated "The applicant storm water calculations indicate the proposed storm water facilities for the development are sized adequately for the proposed bu...
Click here for full text