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Memo to Planning Commission November 26,2002 Page 2 • Analysis The current ordinance uses the terminology"metal construction/exterior" pertaining to exterior building finishes. Staff has included two new definitions related to metal finishes on accessory buildings. This is to help clarify the difference between typical metal pole barn construction versus metal lap siding which is typical on many residential homes. The purpose is to separate out the two types of metal construction finishes and to clarify what will be acceptable metal exterior products. The current ordinance does not allow for any type of membrane (canvas) accessory structures. Upon reviewing the current ordinance and the building code,it was found that the currently available canvas structures cannot meet the wind and snow loads required by the building code. Staff called seven different commercial businesses in Elk River and surrounding communities to see if they carry this type of product and if they met any wind or snow loads. Upon contacting them, only two businesses carried them and neither met the required loads. Currently accessory structures that are less than 120 square feet do not require a building permit. Once a structure exceeds this square footage,it requires a building permit and it must meet all applicable building codes. The average size of the accessory structures was found to be about 200 square feet,which would place them in a category to require a permit and meet all applicable building codes. From the information given to staff by local • businesses,these structures do not meet the code. According to Appendix Chapter 31 of the Uniform Building Code,membrane structures erected less than 180 days shall comply with applicable provisions of the Fire Code. This states that if it is a temporary structure,it must still meet fire code,which the locally available structures do not appear to do so. Again,if the structure is greater than 120 square feet,it requires a building permit and must meet all applicable building codes. Staff has prepared two options to regulate these types of accessory structures. Option A allows them only in the Al and Ria districts year round and if they exceed 120 square feet,they must meet all applicable building codes. Option B allows them only in the Al and Rla districts but only as a temporary structure not to exceed 180 days in a calendar year. Again,in Option B,if they exceed 120 square feet they must meet all applicable building codes. Option B will create enforcement problems, as it will be difficult to track these temporary structures to insure they are removed after their allowed time frame. This topic was presented to the City Council at their November 18th,2002 meeting and they gave the direction of exploring them as temporary structures. • S:\PLANNING\Case Files\OA 02-06 Accessory Structures\OA 02-06.DOC