HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090105 - VI-12VI-12
Memo
To: Mayor Hicks and City Council
From: Karl Barker, Associate Planner
Date: January 5, zoos
Subject: ~ 5t Readinglorder Public Hearing -Amend ordinance ~ 55.23 4D}
Demolition of Homes in the oHDS
REQUEST
ThP City Council is asked to consider ~ St reading and order a public hearing to amend City
Code Chapter ~ 55.23~D} -original Hastings Design Standards ~oHDS}. The amendment
would exempt demolition of homes from oHDS regulations. Therefore, demolition could
occur without Planning Commission and City Council approval. Staff is currently working
with the Heritage Preservation Commission ~HPC}and the Building Department to allow a
review period by the HPC when the Building Department receives a permit for demolition.
Upon consideration of ~ S~ reading, the public hearing and final adoption would be scheduled
for the January 20, 2009, City Council Meeting.
BACKGROUND
The Planning Commission met and reviewed the aforementioned item at its October 2l,
2008, meeting. The recommendation of the Planning Commission is that homes to be
demolished do not need to have oHDS review before the Planning Commission or City
Council. This is because the Planning Commission feels that the demolition of homes in
the OHDS does not deter from the character of the neighborhood. However, any new
homes built on the land of the home that was demolished would need to have oHDS
review. In addition, the Planning Commission recommended determining if the home to be
demolished could be moved to another location.
The City Council metand reviewed the amendmentatits November 3, 2008, meeting. The
City Council concurred with the Planning Commission's decision.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing at its December 22, 2008, meeting. No
members of the publicspoke to the issue. The Planning Commission voted 6-0 to approve
the amendment to ordinance ~ 55.23 pertaining to the demolition of homes in the original
Hastings Design Standards area.
ATTACHMENT
• Ordinance
Memo from Heritage Preservation Commission
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
(D) Original Hastings design standards.
~1} lnfenf. Qriginal Hastings Design Standards QHDS} preserve and
enhance traditional neighborhood design by reflecting the general characteristics
of buildings dating from ~ 845 to ~ 940, the predominate era for building
construction within the QHDS District. QHDS regulations ensure traditional
neighborhood design by incorporating design features such as alleys, carriage
houses, front porches, period sensitive housing design, sidewalks, and traditional
street lighting. Design standards create and enhance the character of alder
neighborhoods by establishing regulations to guide property development and
rehabilitation consistent with the unique historic character of the neighborhood.
The QHDS are derived from the Design Guidelines for Qriginal Hastings,
adopted in 2003 by the City Council as part of the Heart of Hastings Master Plan.
~2} Designafed Disfrrcf. QHDS shall be effective for portions of the R~2
District as indicated in the figure below and shall be further identified on the
Official Zoning Map. Areas not zoned R~2 are excluded from the QHDS.
(3) Applicability. The OHDS are applicable to all new residential
development within the OHDS District. Substantial modifications to existing
residential buildings shall also adhere to the design standards. Substantial
modifications are defined as building improvements affecting the exterior of a
structure exceeding 5% of its current building market value as defined by the
Dakota County Assessor.
(4) Exemptions. The following activities shall be exempt from Original
Hastings Design Standards:
(a) Accessory buildings under 120 square feet;
fib} Fences, decks, parches, and patios within the rear yard or
interior side yard. Corner side yards abutting aright-af~way shalt not be exempt
from the design standards;
(c) Areas of a home or structure not directly part of an alteration or
improvement;
~d} Alterations or improvements to the interior of a structure not
affecting the outward appearance.
{e) Demolition of homes.
~5} Relationship to l~isforic preservafian districts and standards. original
Hastings Design Standards are different from and complimentary to established
historic preservation districts and standards. Original Hastings Design Standards
focus less on historic re-creation, but on the consistency of new and rehabilitated
buildings to the established traditional character, bulk, height and form of the
neighborhood. Provisions of ~ 30.~o still apply to properties within the OHDS
that are within a designated Heritage Preservation District or individually
designated as a Historic Preservation Site.
Memo
To: Planning Commission and City Council
From: Heritage Preservation Commission
Date: ~ 21~ fi1Z008
Subject: ordinance amendment regarding demolition in the oHDS
The Heritage Preservation Commission's goal is preserving the historical character and fabric of
the City. Dur review responsibility lies only with the designated historic properties and districts.
'vVhile the HPC understands that the Original Hastings Design Standards are not meant to
preserve the historical fabric of the buildings, the intent statement of the DHDS states that its
purpose is to "preserve and enhance traditional neighborhood design by reflecting the general
characteristics ofbuildings dating from 1845 to 1940, the predominate era for building
construction within the aHDS District." For this reason the HPC believes that it is essential for
the Planning Commission and City Council to review proposed demolitions to determine if they
would have an adverse effect ar will be a positive step for the preservation of the traditional
neighborhood.
The HPC believes the ordinance should be modified to address demolitions with some criteria;
for example:
(1) Does the building make a prominent and positive contribution to the traditional character of
the neighborhood or is it not typical or even incompatible with the traditional appearance?
(2) Does the existing condition warrant demolition; is the building badly deteriorated or unsafe?
(3) Is the existing building a nuisance; is causing other problems for the neighborhood?
(4) What does the owner intend to do with the vacant lot; open space or new building site?
(5) If a new building is intended, does the owner have a design compatible with the OHDS
guidelines?
Thank you for considering our recommendation,
Heritage Preservation Commission
JJF