Planning Comm. moves structure amendment forward

The New Prague Planning Commission at its Wednesday, July 26, meeting recommended for approval an amendment for residential accessory structures. The amendment stems from a recent “pole-shed” type building that went up as a garage behind a residence along Main Street. The amendment is not to ban such structures, but to make changes to the city’s zoning ordinance language.

The commission had discussed the amendment at its Wednesday, June 28, meeting. It had decided to table the matter as City Planning Director Ken Ondich double checked on what building materials could be used. At the July 26 meeting, Ondich explained that he talked with the city’s Building Official Chad Lunder. He provided information from the 2015 Minnesota Residential Code, Lunder highlighted sections on steel materials that can be used specifically for roofing and siding. Ondich said the codes do list the minimum corrosion resistance standards for steel roofs. For siding, there is a minimum of thickness, joint type and other requirements.

One aspect of the building that generated the discussion was its height. There were a number of phone calls to city staff and New Prague City Council members while the structure was being built. Ondich said pole-sheds are not prohibited under the city’s current ordinances. The home in front of the building is also quite tall. Under current city code an accessory building will not exceed the height of the primary structure or home.

The proposed ordinance changes are:.......

To see what the changes would be pick up the August 3, 2017 print edition of The New Prague Times.