Laserfiche WebLink
� <br /> �� . <br /> �� � <br /> y C� <br /> � To: Chair Bremer and Plamung Conuiiission ' <br /> . Ron Moorse, City Admiiustrator � � <br /> From: Mike Gaffron, Plaiming Director ��� <br /> D�te: October 12, 2006 <br /> Subject: #06-3240 Proposed Ordinaiice Amendiiieiit: Basement& Story Definitions <br /> Background ' <br /> The zoning code establishes that residential strucfii.ues ca�uiot exceed 30' iii height and casuiot <br /> exceed 2-1/2 stories. Through the years the City has i•evised the zoning code a nuinber of <br /> times to result in fauly fiulctioiial definitions for administering the 30' height limit, and <br /> recently(Septeillber 2004)the defiiutiou of"half-story" was dealt witli. <br /> Tlie code still leaves sometlung to be desired in terms of allowing oiie to establish whether the <br /> first floor of a building is the "basement" or the "f rst story", aiid this becomes critical wheil <br /> attemptuig to adniinister the 2-1/2 story limit. The zoning code does not define "story", aiid <br /> the definition of"basement" relies oii anibiguous or undefiiied ternzs. Tlie City has also been <br /> relying to some extent on Building Code defuutions wluch are in coiiflict with certain premises <br /> of tlie City Ordinaiice. Staff has been usiilg a "functional defiiution" that is not written <br /> anywhere and has some flaws. Because the "fiinctional definition". is neither codified iior <br /> written, it lias also caused much consteniation amoiig arclutects and builders. <br /> Summary of Proposed Ordinance Amendment . <br /> ' The proposed amendment will revises the definition of"basement", eliminates the defuution of <br /> . "groluid level" in favor of a new defuutioii of"existiiig ground level", and adds a defiiution of <br /> "story". The conibined effect is to establish a staiidard method for deterinining whether the <br /> first floor of a buildiiig is a baseinent or a story. � <br /> Existing Zoning Code Definitions . . <br /> The defiiution of"baseinent"iii the zonuig code is:� <br /> B�rse»aent mevis a portion of a building located partly undergrotmcl, but having l�.alf of <br /> the floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjouiing ground. � <br /> The zoniiig code does not define "average grade of tl�e adjoiiiiiig grouud", but it defiiles <br /> . "ground level"as follows: <br /> G�°ound le>>el nieans ihe average elevation of the finished grouizd surface nleasured <br /> witlun five feet of the fouiidatioiz of a building, eacept grouiid level rel�ted to height of <br /> building shall be nieasLUed at ceiiter of buildiiig faciiig the front of the lot. <br />