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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit D FloorAreaBonus.125 W Main St Page 1 of 3 Exhibit D Floor Area Bonus Criteria Staff Findings 26.415.110.F: Floor Area Bonus: 1. In selected circumstances, the HPC may grant up to five hundred (500) additional square feet of allowable floor area for projects involving designated historic properties. The potential bonus is determined by net lot area such that a 3,000-5,999 square foot lot is eligible for a maximum of a two hundred fifty (250) square foot floor area bonus, a 6,000-8,999 square foot lot is eligible for a maximum of a three hundred seventy five (375) square foot floor area bonus and a 9,000 square foot or larger lot is eligible for a maximum of a 500 square foot floor area bonus. Floor area bonuses are cumulative. More than one bonus may be approved up to the maximum amount allowed for the lot. If a property is subdivided, the maximum bonus will be based on the original lot size, though the bonus may be allocated amongst the newly created parcels to the extent permitted. On any lot where a historic property is permitted a duplex density while a non-historic property is not, the increased allowable floor area that results from the density will be deducted from the maximum bonus that the property may receive. To be considered for the bonus, it must be demonstrated that the project meets all of the following criteria: a) The historic building is the key element of the property, and the primary entry into the structure, and the addition is incorporated in a manner that maintains the visual integrity of the historic building; and b) If applicable, historically significant site and landscape features from the period of significance of the historic building are preserved; and the applicant is undertaking multiple significant restoration actions, including but not limited to, re-opening an enclosed porch, re-installing doors and windows in original openings that have been enclosed, removing paint or other nonoriginal finishes, or removing elements which are covering original materials or features; and c) The project retains a historic outbuilding, if one is present, as a free standing structure above grade; and d) The applicant is electing a preservation outcome that is a high priority for HPC, including but not limited to, creating at least two detached structures on the site, limiting the amount of above grade square footage added directly to a historic resource to no more than twice the above grade square footage of the historic resource, limiting the height of an addition to a historic resource to the height of the resource or lower, or demolishing and replacing a significantly City of Aspen Land Use Code Part 400 – Historic Preservation Page 29 incompatible non-historic addition to a historic resource with an addition that meets current guidelines. 2. Granting of additional allowable floor area is not a matter of right but is contingent upon the sole discretion of the HPC and the Commission's assessments of the merits of the proposed project and its ability to demonstrate exemplary historic preservation practices. Page 2 of 3 3. The decision to grant a floor area bonus for major development projects will occur as part of the approval of a Conceptual Development Plan, pursuant to Subsection 26.415.070.D. 4. Floor area bonuses are only available for single-family, duplex or 100% affordable housing development. A property shall receive no more than 500 square feet total. The award of a bonus is project specific. At such time that more than 40% of an addition to a historic resource that was constructed as part of a project which previously received a floor area bonus is demolished, the bonus may be retained only if the proposed redevelopment is found to meet the requirements of this Section. 5. Separate from the floor area bonus described above, on a lot that contains a historic resource, HPC may exempt wall exposed by a light well that is larger than the minimum required for egress from the calculation of subgrade floor area only if the light well is internalized such that it is entirely recessed behind the vertical plane established by the portion of the building façade(s) closest to any street(s), the light well is screened from view from the street by building walls or fences, and any addition that is made to the affected resource simultaneous or after the construction of the light well is entirely one story. Page 3 of 3 Staff Finding: This 3,000 square foot lot is eligible for a bonus of up to 250 square feet. The proposed project is 135 square feet over the maximum floor area. The application mentions a request for the full 250 square feet to be banked for future development, but this is not allowable. The existing development is 220 square feet below the maximum. A small amount of that area will be consumed by the interior remodel. The balance, plus the requested floor area bonus, will be used to cover the new basement. The floor area bonus in this case does not result in any increase to above grade mass. Staff finds that the criteria for a bonus will be met with a clarified plan for restoration work that will be accomplished on the home. For instance, staff recommends the roof replacement material be wood shingle rather than asphalt. The proposed project is particularly successful because no visible addition is being constructed. If the property were to be converted to 100% commercial use in the future, there would be a 600 square foot increase in allowed floor area, which likely would entail an addition. Staff recommends that, if conversion occurs in the future and an addition is proposed, this floor area bonus is nullified and would have to be earned again to be used. Staff finds that the criteria for granting a floor area bonus can been met with the condition that restoration work is clarified and the bonus will be forfeited if the property is converted to commercial use in the future and an addition is proposed.