All Forum Posts by: Kyle Kingma

Correction, you might not be able to build to the same building lines that the existing building is at, you'll need to follow the R10 district requirements.

If it is a platted lot, the size is nonconforming and you can rebuild. You will not be able to rebuild to the same setbacks without a zone change. If these are just tax lots and you need to plat the lots, then you'll need to rezone.

Professional urban planner here...

I stopped reading the reply posts as some people were hinting at some considerations, but I'll restate them quickly. First, negotiate for land for a flag lot for yourself. That way the DOT is unlikely to deny him access to the 3 acres from the road. Your lot has a right to access and so will his. Now he might like to share your dirt driveway, so who knows. Second, IT IS BAD PLANNING TO SHARE A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. Your local planners should know this. That easement was granted to you for your purpose, not yours AND theirs. Thirdly, this does sound like spot zoning. What's around you? Is it ag and homes or commercial businesses? If its businesses, then that's a life lesson not to buy a landlocked lot surrounded by commercial, however that doesn't sound to be the case. AG zoning is transitional until land use trends are established. The fact that you built a house surrounded by agricultural land establishes residential land uses in that area more than his desire to surround you with commercial. Unless the future land use plan says otherwise, then again, life lesson. He bought it before knowing that he could have his business, that may very well end up being his life lesson.

If you're not opposed to the commercial zoning beside your investment, then use some leverage. You have a very good case or him to have the whole thing denied, BUT your indifference to it and especially support (in the eyes of the decision makers) should give him the green light. So use your leverage. Get your flag lot (at a discount even), and tell him that you won't protest his request as part of the deal. The board should not grant the approval if they are aware that the DOT is going to make a commercial property share a driveway with a SFH.

I'm here to help.

Kyle

Yes you'll need permits for this work. The cost will always depend on what you're doing to it.

If they're a single housekeeping unit less than six individuals, it still meets the definition for family. When you start dividing up units in which each one has their own kitchen and dedicated bathroom, then that's a multifamily situation. Is it surrounded by SFR?

You'll want to make sure that the district allows modular homes and if there are any other necessary design elements or value requirements. Some cities require that the value of the modular home be comparable to the neighborhood and that be designed with pitched roof, etc

So granny stayed in the basement? That doesn't mean it can be rented out as a duplex.

Check the zoning, available water and sewer utilities, access/number of allowable driveways, master thoroughfare plan.

Obviously zoning, but to turn it into separate dwelling units, you'll need fire barriers and will likely need to have it sprinkled. How will each unit have ingress/egress? Arrange for a meeting with your local authorities.

MILs are not meant to be full units. Is this structure permitted? Usually accessory structures are limited to 30% of the rear yard and must be accessory to the primary structure. Allowing a guest house is one thing, renting it out to another family is another. This is a zoning violation, I guarantee you. If it was built in the early 1900s, I'd say there's a chance for grandfathering, but 1999? No way. Possibly an illegal built, but definitely an illegal use.