TITLE
Recommendation to declare the ordinance relating to expansion and
alteration of residential uses with nonconforming parking, read and
adopted as read. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
This item addresses several City Council directed amendments to the Zoning Regulations.
Expansion and Alteration of Residential Uses with Nonconforming Parking
At the November 23, 2004 meeting, the City Council directed the Planning Commission to consider amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to address a development trend in the City, whereby a property owner renovates an existing multi-unit residential building to provide additional bedrooms. The conversion typically occurs through reducing the size of living rooms or dining rooms, or by dividing existing bedrooms to create smaller rooms. In most cases, the conversions are occurring on sites with older properties that do not meet current density, parking, or open space requirements. This has the effect of exacerbating the parking problems already present in many of these areas.
On December 16, 2004, staff proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance whereby interior alterations that created additional bedrooms in studio and one-bedroom units would require additional parking. In response to concerns raised by affordable housing advocates and developers, the Planning Commission determined that the issue required further study, and recommended that the City Council adopt a moratorium prohibiting interior alterations that create additional bedrooms in multi-family structures with nonconforming parking until such time as a study could be completed. The City Council adopted the moratorium on February 1, 2005, and this prohibition remains in place until January 31,2006 or unfllthe Zoning Ordinance is amended.
Staff was also directed to meet with housing advocates and the Apartment Owners Association to ensure that any amendments would avoid negative unintended consequences related to affordable housing. Staff has met with the housing ad...
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