Planning Commission

Planning Commission 2023 April 12  Key elements of the 2018 Virginia Residential Code: ADUs and how they are to be constructed. • Definition of Accessory Dwelling Unit - A dwelling unit in a two-family dwelling that is accessory to the primary dwelling. - An accessory dwelling unit provides for separate living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation facilities for one or more occupants, but may share living space, means of egress, utilities, or other components. - An accessory dwelling unit fully complies with the requirements of the Virginia Residential Code for a dwelling unit except where specified otherwise. • Definition of Two-Family Dwelling - A dwelling that includes two dwelling units or one dwelling unit and one accessory dwelling unit. • Means of egress - Section R-311 requires each dwelling unit in a two-family dwelling must have a compliant means of egress, but an ADU may share means of egress with the primary dwelling unit. • Fire separation - Section R-302.3 requires dwelling units in two-family dwellings to be separated from each other by wall and floor assemblies having not less than a 1-hour fire-resistance rating. - Exceptions allow construction of an ADU without fire separation from the primary dwelling, however, there are specific additional safety features that may be required throughout the building such as a fire alarm system, sprinkler system and interconnected carbon monoxide alarms installed throughout. Single Family Property Owners around UMW • 2.7% of total owners are LLC’s William St College Ave • 82% of owner’s zip code is in FXBG Area 2 – Roffman Rd Sidewalk Extension Project • Project listed in Area 2 Fall Hill Small Area Plan • CDBG Public Facilities Project – to implement Area Plan • 2 Sidewalk Segments, 1 ADA pedestrian ramp, 2 thermoplastic crosswalks, & 5 pedestrian-scale lights • Under construction with lights to be installed in coming weeks Monday, April 10th Wednesday, April 12th Roffman Rd Fall Hill Ave  Planned Development – Residential amendments Council Public Hearing: May 9 • Land Use Transects in the Area 1 Plan west of I-95 call for a mix of residential and commercial uses so that residents and customers are not required to drive long distances and may be able to walk/bike between homes, work places, shopping, or entertainment. • The main zoning district in Area 1: Planned Development – Commercial, allows limited residential uses (10% of acreage). Permitting 24 units per acre in PD-R allows for residential development applications (with proffers) that would foster a diversity of land uses with ‘built-in’ customers for commercial uses. • An implementation step for the Area 1 Plan (Comprehensive Plan Page 11(1)-27) states: ‘Review the City's Planned Development Zoning District regulations and updated them’ including: • Add form based elements; • Permitting applications for additional residential use in the PD districts (special use permit vs. zoning map amendment); • Adjust maximum heights in the PD districts and in accord with the transects where additional height may be appropriate.  Residential Regulation Amendments Council Initiation: April 26 Planned Development Purpose and Intent – “to encourage innovative and creative design, to facilitate use of the most advantageous construction techniques….. The district is designed to permit a greater degree of flexibility in terms of layout, design and construction of planned development than is found in conventional zoning classifications.” Residential Regulation changes would allow consideration of projects with design and unit-type variety. The amendments fall into three groups: • Single-Family Attached (townhouse) Design and Unit flexibility and choice, • Unit and lot flexibility • Multi-family and Single-Family Attached Unit density discount, and • Discount density for smaller units and define ‘two over twos’ (two vertically stacked townhouses) • Environmental Protection. • Reduce allowed density for Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Areas Discussion / Questions From: Elizabeth Safley To: Taylor H. Owen Subject: [EXTERNAL] Planning Commission April 12th Comment Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023 11:59:08 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hi Taylor, Please submit my comment below for this evenings Planning Commission meeting. Thank you! Elizabeth Dear Planning Commission of Fredericksburg, My name is Elizabeth Safley Griffey. I reside at 1231 Hanover Street. I am in full support of the Planning Commission and City Council Members implementing Accessary Dwelling Units (ADU) into the Fredericksburg ordinance for Brompton Heights/College Heights neighborhood.   ADUs will give property owners the option to build an accessory dwelling unit for aging relatives or caretakers to live close to family members. ADUs will provide affordable housing for the local work force who would like to reside in the community where they work. ADUs would provide property owners who would like to remain in their home to “Age in Place” added income to sustain their lifestyle and offset the cost of living in the City.    In summary, ADU’s will add to the housing supply and benefit residents, property owners, and the City of Fredericksburg. Thank you for your consideration, Elizabeth Safley Griffey    From: Max Bernardes To: Planning Subject: [EXTERNAL] ADU Comment- Max Bernardes 1618 Caroline st. Date: Thursday, March 23, 2023 11:41:23 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Good Evening, I would first like to comment on a statement that was made at the previous meeting that I viewed at home. This is in reference to the remarks sent in by the resident of 1500 Caroline Mrs. Beau Paolucci, read by Raymond Herlong, in regards to Mr. Lynch's comment about his friends that he knows support this agenda on ADU's but are unable to attend these "boring ass meeting" but instead are at home feeding their families. I am one of those friends that has been fortunate enough to scratch and claw to be able to afford a home in downtown, and in fact I had to personally renovate my home due to its extreme neglect from previous owners. It is very hard for anyone of my age group with two small children to make it to any of these meetings due to bed times/dinner times. But I believe that Mrs. Paolucci and Mr. Herlong missed the actual point of Mr. Lynch's statement. We DO care about the community, in fact we are some of the strongest proponents of progressive changes such as the ADU's not only because it will help our community but will also help our children. By bringing in the opportunity for more rental property with proper regulations, aka safer residence, we will have the opportunity to have more taxable income to give to our city which in turn will improve our schools, businesses, community, etc. Its hard-to-find time in our schedules to show our community that we want positive change to the city of Fredericksburg, its even harder when we see how we are treated when people like Mr. Lynch are trying his best to share what the younger parts of the community want to see. We want to see change, not stagnation. If it seems that we are promoting ourselves and our friends its because we are trying to being positive growth. Thank you -- Max Bernardes 1618 Caroline Street "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone"