Planning Commission Minutes 2015 08 13

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes August 13, 2015 Page 19 of 22 Cary Tengler Yes Steve Brauneis n/a Scott Russell Yes Tom Rice Yes Motion passed/failed: Pass Motion passes 6-0. ➢ Building Height Measurement —Code Amendment, Resolution No. 25, Series 2015, recommending to City Council approval of the Draft Ordinance, amending Title 17 of the Louisville Municipal Code to amend the definition of grade. • Applicant, Owner and Representative: City of Louisville • Case Manager: Scott Robinson, Planner II Conflict of Interest and Disclosure: None. Public Notice Certification: Posted in City Hall, Public Library, Recreation Center, the Courts and Police Building, and City Web -Site on August 6, 2015. Staff Report of Facts and Issues: Russ presented from Power Point: • Height is measured from average grade at foundation to the highest point on the roof. • This allows fill to be added to raise the foundation if a building is too tall. • Option 1 - Measure height from "natural grade" o Requires surveyor to establish grade before work begins o Still has to measure height at framing o Ensures height cannot be increased by adding fill o Difficulties if grade has been previously altered • Option 2 - Measure grade level away from foundation o Only requires measuring height at framing o No concern about previous changes in grade o Could be questions about whether fill has been added o Could be gained by raising grade of entire site AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 17 Staff is proposing amending Section 17.08.205 in the LMC to read as follows (words added are underlined): • Grade (ground level) means the average of the finished grade surface elevation measured at the highest and lowest exterior corners of a structure. If fill is added to raise the surface elevation at the structure by more than one foot, then grade is determined from the finished site grade level a minimum distance of ten feet from the structure wall, or from the property line if the property line is closer than ten feet. This is the same height ordinance that the Town of Superior and the City of Broomfield use. Boulder County uses the natural grade as well as the City of Boulder, which would require an additional submittal. Staff feels this could be an unusual expense to the development community to try to gain this and gain additional height. Staff believes it would address the questions or concerns shown in the photo. Staff Recommendations: Staff recommends Planning Commission move to approve Building Height Measurement — Code Amendment, Resolution No. 25, Series 2015, recommending to City Council approval