7.0. SR 10-21-2002City
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
Mayor and City Council
Michele McPherso~irector
of Planning
DATE:
October 21, 2002
SUBJECT: Canvas/Plastic Accessory Structures
Item 7.
Request
The City Council is asked to provide direction regarding how canvas/plastic accessory
structures should be regulated.
Attachments
Photos of Sample Structures
Backeround
Due to the economic cost of temporary canvas/plastic structures (see attached photos),
more residents are erecting them. These structures are typically comprised of aluminum
frames with canvas or plastic stretched over the top. Some models include walls and doors.
One such structure was erected on a lot off of Jackson Avenue, which due to wind, blew
into the adjacent neighbor's property. They are also not very aesthetically pleasing, especially
in neighborhoods with smaller lot sizes.
Options for Regulation
The Building and Zoning and Planning staff met on October 14th to discuss regulation of
these "structures". The building code is rather vague in regards to what a structure is:
"that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind or any
piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in
some definite manner".
Staff concurred that these structures meet the definition within the building code for a
structure. There are three options for regulation of these particular structures:
Memo to the Mayor and City Council/Canvas Structures
October 2 I, 2002
Page 2
Not allow them
Ignore them
Regulate them as structure under Building Code Appendix Chapter 31 which would
require these structures to be constructed to specific code standards addressing snow
loads, wind loads, and anchoring. They would also be included in the total accessory
structure square footage allowance under the zoning code. A building permit and
code review would be required under this option.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to amend the zoning code to prohibit
these type of structures for the following reasons:
Aesthetics
Code (life/safety) concerns
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