HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 06-36 07/17/2006
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RESOLUTIONNO 06-36
A RESOLUTION INTERPRETING TEXT OF SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CODE ARTICLES 16
AND 26 As PERMITTING CLUSTER SUBDIVISIONS WITHIN THE HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT
OVERLAY DISTRICT SUBJECT TO ALL APPLICABLE OVERLAY AND CODE STANDARDS.
WHEREAS, the City Council is authorized by Springfield Development Code Article 4- Interpretations to
decide the meaning of words and text contained within the code; and,
WHEREAS, cluster subdivisions are a general density transfer tool allowed in residential districts and
density transfer is allowed under specific conditions in hillside districts of the City of Springfield; and,
WHEREAS, the attached Staff Report and Planning Commission Recommendation contain findings and
conclusions in support of Staffs interpretation and past practice to allow Cluster Subdivisions within the
Hillside Development Overlay District; and,
WHEREAS, achieving Metro Plan densities and safe development of hillsides within the City of Springfield
are both matters affecting the health, safety and well being of the residents of Springfield.
NOW THEREFORE THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The Common Council of the City of Springfield does hereby interpret Cluster
Subdivisions are a permitted use in the Hillside Development Overlay Districts as described in the
attached Staff Report and Planning Commission Recommendation (Attachment 1).
Section 2: The Council endorses and ratifies Staffs past practice of allowing Hillside Development
Overlay District in accordance with SDC Articles 16 and 26 as described in Section VI 8) and 9) of
the attached Staff Report and Planning Commission Recommendation.
Section 3: This Resolution shall take effect upon adoption by the Council and approval by the
Mayor.
ADOPTED by the Common Council of the City of Springfield this 17th th day of July 2006, by a vote of
2 for and ~ against. (1 Absent - Fitch)
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Springfield this
ATTEST:
CityR~~
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ATTACHMENT A
Staff Report and Findings - Interpretation Request
Applicant: City of Springfield
Journal Number: lON2006-00032
I. Interpretation Reauest- Facts and Backaround
Springfield Development Code (SDC) Article 4- Interpretation provides a process to
clarify the meaning of terms or phrases found in the Code.
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A request for an Interpretation of terms and phrases in the SDC is normally reviewed
under Type II procedure, unless the Director determines that the application should be
reviewed as a Type III decision by the Planning Commission due to the need for
discretionary review. Interpretations shall be reviewed by City Council under Type IV
procedures when a decision by elected officials is required to establish City policy. The
Director may also elect to have the City Council establish new policy or endorse a
current policy on the record when the potential exists for appeals before the Oregon
Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). LUBA typically gives deference to policy directions
established by elected local officials during land use appeal procedures.
This interpretation is initiated by staff to confirm and ratify that the Hillside Development
Overlay District (Article 26 of the Springfield Development Code) permits Cluster
Subdivisions as per staff's practice of allowing Cluster Subdivisions on property within
the Hillside Development District in compliance with the slope provisions of the overlay
district.
Specifically, this request seeks confirmation of the correctness of Staff's administration
of the SDC allowing cluster subdivisions "within all residential districts" (see SDC
16.100(3)) and on hillside property "where there are sizable portions of the development
area which have slopes less than 15 percent" (see SDC 26.050(1) Option B).
Conclusion: Simply stated, the question before the Planning Commission and the City
Council is, "Shall Staff continue to allow Cluster Subdivisions on hillside property with
average slopes less than 15%?" Planning Commission and City Council approval of the
staff findings and conclusions contained in this staff report will provide a measure of
security for the development community and resolve any interpretation questions which
may arise during future development review or appeals.
Procedural Finding 1: SDC Article 4 - Interpretation provides a process for staff
interpretation of Code language and, where necessary, clarification or endorsement by
the Planning Commission and City Council (SDC 4.040-050).
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RESOLUTION NO. 06-36
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II. Applicable Criteria
SDC 4.040 INTERPRETATION OF TERMS OR PHRASES.
(2) Criteria of Approval. The Director shall interpret a term or phrase, after
consultation with the City Attorney and City staff. The meaning of any term
or phrase:
(a) Shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of this Code, including
any Article or Section to which the term or phrase is related;
(b) May be determined by legislative history, including staff
reports and public hearing tapes and minutes; and
(c) Shall be consistent with any dictionary of common usage, if
criteria (a) andlor (b) cannot be applied.
Procedural Finding 2: Staff, the Planning Commission or City Council can find
compliance of a proposed Interpretation based on (a) or (b) and if (a) or (b) cannot be
applied then (c).
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III. Interpretation of Applicable Code Lanauaae
Procedural Finding: The specific code language under interpretation and used by staff
as a basis to allow cluster subdivisions in the Hillside District is the following excerpt
from the Residential District:
"SDC 16.1 00(3)(a)- Cluster Development Applicability. Cluster Development is a
form of subdivision development that permits flexibility in dimensional
requirements by reducing lot size, setback, street width and other
developmental standards to allow more flexible design than is permissible
under the conventional subdivision process. Cluster Development preserves
open space and creates innovative residential designs that emphasize
affordability and home ownership. Cluster Development shall be permitted
in all residential districts. (Emphasis added.) The minimum development
area shall be at least 1 gross acre in size. Cluster Development shall not
exceed the maximum density of the applicable zoning District and the Metro
Plan. Density shall be calculated on the gross acreage. ";
and, the following excerpt from the Hillside Overlay:
"SDC 26.050(1) OPTION "B" -DENSITY TRANSFER BONUS. In order to promote the
preservation of natural slopes greater than 15 percent, and encourage solar
access, development density transfer is encouraged when dividing land. The
density transfer is only feasible where there are sizable portions of the
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Interpretation of Cluster SubdivisionIHillside Development Standards
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RESOLUTION NO. 06-36
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development area which have slopes less than 15 percent (Emphasis
Added) or which have a south-facing slopes of less than 25 percent." ;
Staff Findings:
1) Cluster Subdivisions are a special use allowed subject to compliance with
locational and siting standards of the Code (SDC 16.020); Cluster Subdivisions
shall be allowed in all residential districts (SDC 16.100(3)).
2) Staff has consistently administered the above code language to mean that
Cluster Subdivisions are allowed within all residential districts subject to ml
applicable locational and siting standards, including overlay district provisions.
3) The stated purpose of the Cluster Subdivision standards is to provide design
flexibility, encourage infill on larger properties, provide common open space and
preserve natural features (SDC 16.100(3)). Cluster Development specifically
allows reduced lot sizes and setback standards for individual lots, without
exceeding the maximum density provisions of the applicable zoning district for
gross acreages (SDC 16.100(3)(e)).
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4) The Hillside Development District is a zoning overlay district of the Springfield
Development Code and is applied in addition to underlying base districts on
properties located above the 670 foot elevation or having an average slope in
excess of 15%. The stated purpose of the Hillside Development Overlay District
is to minimize hazards to life and property from erosion and mass earth
movement, protect natural vegetation, drainage ways and water quality while
encouraging site and building designs consistent with the natural topography
(SDC 26.010).
5) The stated purpose of the Hillside District density transfer bonus is to promote
the preservation of natural slopes greater than 15% (SDC 26.050(1 )). The
Density Transfer Bonus provides a formula to allow increased density on the
developable portion of the site with average slopes less than 15%. The
maximum density shall not exceed 8 units per developable acre. The Density
Transfer Bonus is silent with regard to lot sizes for that portion of the site located
on areas with an average slopes less than 15%.
6) Where a Special Use is specifically allowed in an underlying District and an
applicable Overlay District is silent, staff interprets the Special Use to be allowed.
Staff interprets Cluster Subdivision to be allowed on property within the Hillside
Development Overlay District with average slopes less than 15% in compliance
with all other overlay district provisions.
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7) Where provisions conflict between underlying zones and overlay districts, staff
administrative practice is to apply the more restrictive provision. Staff interprets
the maximum density of Cluster Subdivisions within the developable portion of a
hillside development site to be 8 units per acre.
Interpretation of Cluster SubdivisionlHillside Development Standards
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IV. Prior Approvals
Procedural Finding: Staff has permitted Cluster Subdivisions within the Hillside Overlay
District subject to compliance with all applicable provisions of the underlying and overlay
districts.
Findings:
8) Westwind Subdivision was approved by Staff as a combination cluster-hillside
subdivision within the Hillside Development Overlay District after Type II
Administrative Review on November 7,2005.
9) The MountainGate Master Plan included two Cluster Subdivisions and was
approved by the Springfield Hearings Official on May 15, 1998. The Type III
Quasi-Judicial Review and Approval for the Cluster Subdivisions was un-
contested.
V. City Attornev Review
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Findings:
10) The City Attorney has reviewed this Interpretation and finds that use of Cluster
Subdivision provisions within the Hillside Overlay District is permissible subject to
review and approval pursuant to all applicable regulations of the Springfield
Development Code, including but not limited to: SDC Article 16- Residential
Zoning Districts, SDC Article 26- Hillside Development Overlay District, SDC
Article 35- Subdivision Standards.
VI. Findings, Conclusion and Recommendation
1) Cluster Subdivisions are a special use allowed subject to compliance with
locational and siting standards of the Code (SDC 16.020); Cluster Subdivisions
shall be allowed in all residential districts (SDC 16.100(3)).
2) Staff interprets the above code language to mean that Cluster Subdivisions are
allowed within all residential districts subject to ml applicable locational and siting
standards, including overlay district provisions.
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3) The stated purpose of the Cluster Subdivision standards is to provide design
flexibility, encourage infill on larger properties, provide common open space and
preserve natural features (SDC 16.100(3)). Cluster Development specifically
allows reduced lot sizes and setback standards for individual lots, without
Interpretation of Cluster SubdivisionIHillside Development Standards
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RESOLUTION No. 06-36
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exceeding the maximum density provisions of the applicable zoning district for
gross acreages (SDC 16.100(3)(e)).
4) The Hillside Development District is a zoning overlay district of the Springfield
Development Code and is applied in addition to underlying base districts on
properties located above the 670 foot elevation or having an average slope in
excess of 15%. The stated purpose of the Hillside Development Overlay District
is to minimize hazards to life and property from erosion and mass earth
movement, protect natural vegetation, drainage ways and water quality while
encouraging site and building designs consistent with the natural topography
(SDC 26.010).
5) The stated purpose of the Hillside District density transfer bonus is to promote
the preservation of natural slopes greater than 15% (SDC 26.050(1)). The
Density Transfer Bonus provides a formula to allow increased density on the
developable portion of the site with average slopes less than 15%. The
maximum density shall not exceed 8 units per developable acre. The Density
Transfer Bonus is silent with regard to lot sizes for that portion of the site located
on areas with an average slopes less than 15%.
6) Where a Special Use is specifically allowed in an underlying District and an
applicable Overlay District is silent, staff interprets the Special Use to be allowed.
Staff interprets Cluster Subdivision to be allowed on property within the Hillside
Development Overlay District with average slopes less than 15% in compliance
with all other overlay district provisions.
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7) Where provisions conflict between underlying zones and overlay districts, staff
policy is to apply the more restrictive provision. Staff interprets the maximum
density of Cluster Subdivisions within the developable portion of a hillside
development site is 8 units per acre.
8) Westwind Subdivision was approved by Staff as a combination cluster-hillside
subdivision within the Hillside Development Overlay District after Type II
Administrative Review on November 7,2005. (See Attached excerpt from
DRC2005-00063).
9) The MountainGate Master Plan included two Cluster Subdivisions and was
approved by the Springfield Hearings Official on May 15, 1998. The Type III
Quasi-Judicial Review and Approval for the Cluster Subdivisions was un-
contested. (See 97-05-123, Attached.)
10) The City Attorney has reviewed this Interpretation and finds that use of Cluster
Subdivision provisions within the Hillside Overlay District is permissible subject to
review and approval pursuant to all applicable regulations of the Springfield
Development Code, including but not limited to: SDC Article 16- Residential
Zoning Districts, SDC Article 26- Hillside Development Overlay District, SDC
Article 35- Subdivision Standards.
Conclusion and Recommendation:
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Interpretation of Cluster SubdivisionlHiIlside Development Standards
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The attached findings of fact support to the conclusion that Cluster Subdivisions are
allowed in all residential districts subject to compliance with all applicable locational,
siting and overlay district standards. Staff concludes that the Hillside Development
Overlay District did not anticipate, permit or preclude the use of Cluster Subdivisions.
The practice is consistent with the purpose and intent of the SDC: design flexibility and
encouraging site and building designs consistent with the natural topography of the site.
This Interpretation request is consistent with criterion of approval 4.040(2)(a) set out in
Article 4, INTERPRETATIONS, of the Springfield Development Code. Staff
recommends approval of this request by adoption of the findings in this report and
signature of the Chairperson on the attached Recommendation of Approval. The
recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council on July 17, 2006.
Jim Donovan
Planner II
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