All single-family attached dwellings shall be constructed according to the following minimum standards:
A. Building Site: A maximum of six (6) dwelling units may be attached per building, except where buildings are adjacent to RR, RL, R-1 and R-1A zoning districts; such buildings shall be limited to a maximum of four (4) dwelling units per building.
B. Basements: All dwelling units within the development shall have a permanent frost free foundation or equal, in accordance with the applicable building code.
C. Single-Family Attached Dwelling Frontage: No frontage requirement on a public street or road is necessary for single- family attached development; however, access to a public street is required via common open space fronting the right of way.
D. Setback Requirements For Single-Family Attached Dwelling Development: The following setbacks shall be required for townhome development:
Principal Structure | Accessory Structure (Attached Or Detached) | Parking Lot | |
Any front, rear or side along a principal arterial highway | 60 feet | 40 feet | 40 feet |
Any front, rear or side along a minor arterial highway | 50 feet | 30 feet | 30 feet |
Any front, rear or side along a collector street | 40 feet | 20 feet | 20 feet |
Any front, rear or side along a local street | 30 feet | 20 feet | 20 feet |
Interior side or rear lot line | 20 feet | 10 feet | 10 feet |
Any front, rear or side of building along a private roadway | 20 feet from back of curb | 20 feet from back of curb | 15 feet from back of curb |
E. Minimum Distance Between Townhome Structures: In addition to the setback requirements of subsection D of this section, the following minimum distances shall be maintained between structures:
1. A minimum of twenty feet (20') shall be maintained between side walls of end unit townhomes between adjacent rows of townhome units.
2. Where the rear of a row of townhome dwelling units faces the rear of an adjoining row of townhome dwelling units, the minimum distance between structures shall be sixty feet (60').
3. Where the rear of a row of townhomes faces the side wall or front of an adjoining row of townhomes, the minimum distance between the structures shall be forty feet (40').
4. Off street parking areas provided within the common area for the use of all of the homeowners shall maintain a minimum setback of fifteen feet (15') from adjacent townhome dwelling units.
F. Minimum Separation: Single-family attached dwellings shall have a minimum separation of twenty feet (20') between buildings.
G. Single-Family Attached Dwelling Parking Requirements: Each dwelling unit shall have a minimum of two and one-half (21/2) car parking spaces available for each dwelling unit's use. Two (2) enclosed garage car parking spaces, no less than four hundred forty (440) square feet in area, shall be provided on the dwelling unit lot and the remaining requirements provided for within the overall townhome development. The development shall provide the remaining one-half (1/2) space per unit in the common space, which will be accessible to all dwellings.
H. Design Of Garage And Accessory Structures: Garages and other accessory structures shall be architecturally compatible in construction and appearance with the main building. Garage spaces required to satisfy off street parking requirements shall be attached to the townhome dwelling unit. A minimum of one hundred fifty (150) cubic feet of storage space, exclusive of parking spaces provided, shall be provided within the garage.
I. Design Of Streets And Parking Areas:
1. All parking and driving surfaces shall be surfaced with concrete or asphalt, and shall be defined by continuous concrete perimeter curbing.
2. All internal private roadways shall be a minimum twenty eight feet (28') wide face to face.
J. Exterior Vertical Surface Design: All exterior vertical surfaces of a townhome dwelling and accessory structures shall be treated as a front and have an equally attractive or the same fascia. At least fifty percent (50%) of any exterior building finish shall consist of a combination of materials which are noncombustible, nondegradable and maintenance free (for example, base brick, natural stone, glass and aluminum, steel or vinyl siding) or those comparable in grade and quality. No exterior building finish shall be sheet aluminum, asbestos, iron, steel, corrugated aluminum or untreated block.
K. Vertical Wall Surface Alignments: No more than two (2) adjacent unit exterior walls may occupy the same vertical plane. All townhome structures containing three (3) or more dwelling units shall have minimum offsets of four feet (4') between one of the units and the adjacent property.
L. Single-Family Attached Platted Additions:
1. Density: All single-family attached developments shall be built in platted additions to the city and shall have a maximum net density not to exceed six (6) dwelling units per acre. Said land shall be platted before a building permit is issued. For the purpose of this section, "plat" is defined in accordance with Minnesota statutes, section 505.01 et seq., as amended. Minimum single-family attached development lot size shall be one-half (1/2) acre.
M. Single-Family Attached Dwelling Open Space Requirements:
1. Recreational Space: All areas not occupied by structures, parking or driving surfaces shall be landscaped and maintained with vegetation. At least twenty percent (20%) of the open/green space, excluding required setback areas, shall be reserved for playgrounds and/or passive recreational space. Park lands shall be graded and seeded by the developer.
2. Streets And Lanes: The developer of each townhome development shall be responsible for building and developing of the open space into finished, graded and fully developed areas consisting of paved streets having a minimum of five (5) ton axle load bituminous surfacing and common paved parking areas, in accordance with section 11-6-1, "Off Street Parking Requirements", of this title.
N. Requirements Of Homeowners' Association: The declaration of covenants for a homeowners' association shall be approved by the city and shall contain the following:
1. Duties Of Homeowners' Association: The open space and common areas shall be maintained and cared for by the developer of the single-family attached project until a homeowners' association is formed to maintain open space and common areas. This single- family attached homeowners' association shall be responsible for the care and maintenance of all open space and common areas of this single-family attached project and also for the maintenance and appearance of the exterior of each unit.
2. Homeowners' Charges: The homeowners' association shall levy charges to each owner for the maintenance cost, operating costs and improvement costs for the open space, parks, and green areas and also for the parking and bituminous surfaced areas which are not publicly owned and maintained. In addition, the homeowners' association will assume the responsibility to maintain the exterior of the building and also their front and rear yards in an acceptable condition which is compatible to the neighboring property. This condition shall be so kept that it will not cause a blighting of the area or a general deterioration of the single- family attached development. The homeowners' association will cause blighted properties to be repaired, restored, and maintained as necessary to a proper standard for the area.
3. Failure To Organize Homeowners' Association: In the event that the developer or owner of the single-family attached project is unable to organize the property owners into an association for the maintenance of the open space and single-family attached project after twelve (12) months from the completion of the construction, the council will call for a public hearing of all persons so concerned and ask for the creation of such an association. If no association is formed or if the association ceases to function any time after it is formed, the council will order such maintenance work and restoration of the area and then will assess such costs, together with a reasonable supervision charge, to the property owners in the single-family attached project or the individual property owner receiving the individual benefit.
4. Declaration Of Covenants: The council may require that the declaration of covenants include provisions to meet the minimum requirements of this section or to satisfy conditions of city approval, may be enforced by the city, and may not be amended or released without city council approval. (Ord. B-96, 12-2-1997)