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CITY OF ORONO MEMORANDUM <br />DATE: August 12, 2019 <br />TO: Mayor Walsh, City Council members <br />Dustin Rief, City Administrator <br />FROM: Jeremy Barnhart, AICP, Community Development Director <br />RE: Oversized Accessory Building size <br />This item was tabled during the July 22, 2019 workshop, due to a lack of time. <br />At their meeting on June 10, 2019, the City Council questioned the oversize accessory building <br />(OAB) to lot size ratios codified in section 78-1434 when reviewing a variance request for what <br />would have allowed an OAB to be larger than permitted by code. <br />The current ratio appears to have been introduced to the city code in June of 2013 (Ord 106 Yd <br />series). In December of 2018 an amendment was approved that added ratios for lots greater than <br />9 acres (Ord 222 Yd series). Exhibit A shows the current table and applies a ratio of building <br />size to lot area for illustrative purposes. As lots get larger, the percentage of allowable accessory <br />building coverage drops. Also included in the green column is the square footage if a straight <br />percentage (5%) was applied to the maximum lot area, for discussion purposes. <br />*Note that for lots 2.00 acres or less, the structural coverage limit of 15% applies, and for <br />lots within the Shoreland Overlay district, limits to impervious surface apply, based on that lot's <br />proximity to the lake. <br />Attached as Exhibit B is a comparison of accessory building regulations of area communities. <br />Most of the communities are lake communities with predominantly smaller lots, so the city of <br />Medinas experience may be most helpful. <br />The limits established by code were deemed to be the maximum acceptable to the City Council <br />at that time. The Council may change these ratios at any time. The Council should understand <br />that an attempt to set a limit to eliminate the need for a variance will not. The Council should <br />establish its limit based on what they feel is acceptable in residential zoning districts. The <br />setbacks for oversized accessory buildings (larger than 1,000 sq ft) generally follow the setbacks <br />for the principal structure. <br />Any change to the zoning ordinance will require review by the planning commission and a <br />public hearing. <br />Exhibits <br />Exhibit A Ratio Worksheet <br />Exhibit B City comparison <br />