Title
Ordinance - Public Hearing and First and Final Reading of an Ordinance Approving Amendments of Chapter 155 of the Mansfield Code of Ordinances Amending the Regulations in Section 155.082(E)(6) Related to Accessory Buildings or Structures and Section 155.099(B)(5), “Residential Accessory Buildings” (OA#23-010)
Requested Action
To consider the proposed text amendment
Recommendation
The Planning and Zoning Commission met on October 2, 2023, and voted 6 to 0 to recommend approval with a request that consideration be made to include the area of an accessory building in calculating the maximum lot coverage of a property.
Aye: 6 -Michael Mainer; Blake Axen; Brandon Shaw; David Goodwin; Patrick Moses; and Michael Bennett
Nay: 0
Absent: 1 - Jennifer Thompson
Abstain: 0
The Department of Planning and Development Services recommended approval of the text amendments to the provisions in Chapter 155 of the City of Mansfield Code of Ordinances as presented.
. Description/History
The residential accessory building regulations were originally adopted in 2001, with the latest revision in 2019. Since then, there have been amendments to the residential lot standards and sizes in support of increased flexibility in development and design. The accessory building regulations have not kept pace with these changes, and the Department of Planning and Development Services has noted common issues related to accessory buildings that residents continue to face. The proposed amendments seek to address these issues.
The proposed amendments are intended to relieve some of these issues and bring the regulations more in line with similar standards for outbuildings in the D, Downtown District and the S, South Mansfield Form-based Development District. The proposed amendments include the following:
• The amendments revise Section 155.082(E)(6) to allow the Zoning Board of Adjustment to grant a special exception to the maximum height of an accessory building or structure up to 35 feet on properties over 20,000 square feet.
• The amendments revise the special conditions in Section 155.099(B)(5) to make the following changes:
1. The square footage regulations for accessory buildings or structures have been simplified. Additionally, the allowable maximum square footage has been increased based on the size of the property as follows:
a) 300 square feet for properties less than 8,400 square feet (the current ordinance allows 200 square feet);
b) 750 square feet for properties between 8,400 square feet and 19,999 square feet (the current ordinance allows 400 square feet); and
c) 1,500 square feet or 4 percent of the property area, whichever is greater, for properties of 20,000 square feet or larger (the current ordinance allows up to 2 percent of the property area).
2. The maximum height of accessory buildings or structures has been increased from 12 feet under the current ordinance up to 24 feet by right.
3. The rear yard setbacks for accessory buildings or structures have been slightly reduced to provide residents with better options in the placement of these structures on their properties.
4. If a property contains an accessory dwelling unit, the total combined floor area of the accessory dwelling unit and any accessory building or structure on the property cannot exceed 2,500 square feet. Additionally, the main residence, an accessory dwelling unit and any accessory building or structure cannot exceed the property’s maximum lot coverage.
The remaining provisions for residential accessory buildings in Section 155.099(B)(5) will continue in effect as they are today. A redlined copy of the proposed ordinance is attached for the Planning and Zoning Commission’s review.
Prepared By
Art Wright, AICP
Principal Planner
817-276-4226