Design Standards in Saint PaulProposed Design Standards

Zoning Amendments

December 16, 2009

Department of Safety & Inspections / Department of Planning & Economic Development / City Council Research

Timeline of study

• City Council directed Planning Commission to study options for design standards for 1- and 2-family dwellings (Jan. 2009)

• City Council passed the interim ordinance (Feb. 2009)• Public hearing draft developed by staff• Planning Commission public hearings on May 22 and June 5,

2009• Neighborhood Planning Committee considered public

testimony and staff recommendation (summer-fall 2009)• Planning Commission approved the Neighborhood Planning

Committee recommendation (Oct. 16, 2009)

The interim ordinance (Feb. 2009 to date)

• Before it, existing design standards (§63.110) were only applied to uses that require site plan review (not 1- and 2- family homes)

• The interim ordinance has required a site plan review of 1- and 2-family homes

– The proposed amendments would continue to require this

Public hearing highlights

• Residential & nonresidential buildings should relate to the street (entrances, pedestrian connections and windows & doors facing street)

• Creativity and innovation should not be thwarted• Avoid obstacles to green building techniques, designs, and technologies• Focus on clear, measurable, objective standards• Limit parking locations and the amount of pavement used but consider

common site constraints (no alley, etc.)

§63.110. General Design Standards

(b) New development should relate to the design of adjacent traditional buildings, where these are present, in scale and character. This can be achieved by maintaining similar setbacks, facade divisions, roof lines, rhythm and proportions of openings, building materials and colors. Historic architectural styles need not be replicated.

• What is “traditional”? What does “relate to” mean? Subjective concepts • Avoid fruitless aesthetic debates (costly, time-consuming)• Better to use the regular variance process (unique circumstances)• Focus on clear, measurable, objective standards

Primary entrances for all buildings

A primary entrance of principal structures shall be located within the frontthird of the structure;

+ be delineated with elements such as roof overhangs, recessed entries, landscaping, or similar design features; + and have a direct pedestrian connection to the street.

In addition, for one- and two-family dwellings, a primary entrance shall either: 1) face an improved abutting street; or 2) be located off of a front porch, foyer, courtyard, or similar architectural feature, and set back at least eight (8) feet from the side lot line.

Within front 1/3, Located off a foyer

Not within front 1/3

on above grade exterior walls of principal residential & nonresidential buildings

• Excludes industrial, production, processing, storage, public service, utility buildings

• Principal buildings: Window and door openings shall comprise at least 15 percent of the total area of exterior walls facing a public street

• New principal residential buildings: Window and door openings shall comprise at least ten (10) percent of the total area of all exterior walls

Front: 17% Total: 8%

Front: 15% Total: 11%

The area of window & door openings

“Hold the corner” – clarified definition

In pedestrian-oriented commercial districts …., new principal structures shall have

• a maximum setback of fifteen (15) feet from a commercial front lot line. • At intersections, buildings shall “hold the corner,” that is, have street facades

within fifteen (15) feet of the lot line along both streets, or the site plan shall have vertical structural elements that “hold the corner.”

• A primary entrance shall face a primary abutting public street.

Other ordinance amendments

• §63.110 • Makes more flexible required screening of rooftop mechanical

equipment (to allow for solar panels and other technologies)

• §61.402, §63.310, §63.316• Requires building elevations in site plan review• Limits the extent of driveways in residential front yards• Allow for pervious pavement for parking – brick, concrete, stone

pavers• Limits surface parking spaces as % of residential lot area

• §63.501• Requires residential off-street parking to access the alley (when

available)• Requires garage doors facing public streets to be set back at least

as far as the principal structure