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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,Apri118, 2016 <br /> 6:30 dclock p.m. <br /> Lemke moved, Schoenzeit seconded, Application No. 16-3822, Curt Fretham of Lakewest, LLC, <br /> 3245 Wayzata Boulevard West,to recommend approval of the preliminary plat subject to the <br /> widening of the road on the western edge to public standards,land dedication for a park, and a <br /> 10-foot trail easement, subject to approval by Hennepin County Transportation Department of two <br /> road accesses. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br /> 6. #16-3815 CITY OF ORONO ZONING CODE AMENDMENT REGARDING THE <br /> DEFINITION OF HALF-STORY, 10:00 P.M.- 10:27 P.M. <br /> Curtis stated clarification and simplification of the City's half-story definition was the second highest <br /> priority on the Council's and Planning Commission's 2015 Zoning Code amendment directive. <br /> Orono's current regulations limit structures to 30 feet in defined height and 2-1/2 total stories above a <br /> basement. The massing limitation is achieved when the height regulations are combined with Orono's <br /> maximum footprint size based on the lot size. <br /> The half-story allowance almost requires high gabled rooflines and has marginal benefit to the massing <br /> goals. Unfortunately, the current half-story regulation is complicated for homeowners,builders, and <br /> architects. Likewise,the height and massing determination can add excessive time and complication to <br /> the building permit review due in part to the unique character and design of buildings. <br /> At the March and April Planning Commission work sessions, Staff asked the Commission to explore <br /> different options for regulating massing, including the possibility of establishing a floor area ratio (FAR) <br /> limitation. FAR, combined with setbacks, maximum defined height and hardcover regulations may <br /> accomplish the City's goals and result in a more user-friendly regulation without the complication of a <br /> half-story determination. <br /> FAR is determined by dividing the gross floor area of a building by the total area of the lot. Alternatively, <br /> to address visual massing on narrow lots,the addition of a graduated setback requirement for the top most <br /> story or the portions of the structure so many feet from the existing grade was discussed for limiting the <br /> effects of massing. As an example,the third level above the basement could be set back X feet from the <br /> outermost wall below it. <br /> During the work session, Staff and Planning Commission discussed the following two possible options: <br /> Option 1: <br /> - Remove the number of stories limitation. <br /> -Keep height limitation as it is currently calculated at 30 feet. <br /> -Keep 15 percent structural footprint maximum for lots under 2.0 acres. <br /> - Add a graduated setback. <br /> Option 2: <br /> -Remove the number of stories limitation. <br /> -Keep height limitation as it is currently calculated at 30 feet. <br /> -Remove 15 percent structural footprint maximum. <br /> -Establish a Floor Area Ratio limit for principal buildings. <br /> Page 26 of 32 <br />