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F. The reduction of parking and setback <br />requirements for affordable housing. <br />As structured, the county's Land Development Regulations establish minimum setback <br />and lot size requirements for both single family residential zoning districts and multiple <br />family residential zoning districts. These setback requirements provide a standard <br />separation between houses and between houses and roadways. For affordable housing <br />projects, the small lot subdivision provisions of section 971.41 of the LDRs allow for a <br />reduction of lot size and building setbacks for single family homes. <br />In the RS -6 zoning district, for example, single family homes are required to have a <br />minimum lot width of seventy (70) feet. With small lot subdivisions, however, lots <br />having a minimum width of only fifty (50) feet and reduced side yard setbacks seven (7) <br />feet can be created. While rear yard setbacks are reduced from 20 feet to 15 feet, the <br />minimum front yard setback on all single family homes from the edge of right-of-way is <br />twenty (20) feet. This setback distance allows for cars to be parked in the driveway and <br />not block the sidewalk or impede pedestrian movement. <br />For residential uses, the county requires two parking spaces for each dwelling unit. This <br />requirement is detailed in section 954.05(56) and is as follows: <br />Section 954.05(56) <br />Single-family dwellings and duplexes. Two (2) spaces for each dwelling unit; single- <br />family dwellings and duplexes shall be exempted from all other requirements in <br />subsection 954.07(4) and 954.10. Uncovered parking spaces shall be exempted from the <br />front yard setback requirements. <br />ANALYSIS: <br />To ensure health and safety, all residential development must meet current minimum <br />parking and setback requirements for the appropriate zoning district as established in the <br />county LDRs. For example, the county's 20 foot minimum front yard setback provides <br />enough distance, but not an excessive distance, for parking a vehicle in a driveway <br />without the vehicle projecting into the sidewalk. Reducing or eliminating parking <br />requirements would force residents to park in roadway rights-of-way. This could create <br />safety issues unless minimum mandatory right-of-way widths are increased (which would <br />reduce lot depth and area). <br />Generally, reduced setbacks for affordable housing projects are appropriate, because <br />reduced setbacks can increase yield and reduce housing prices. In Indian River County, <br />the small lot subdivision allowances provide for reduced lot sizes, as well as reduced side <br />yards and reduced rear yards setbacks, for affordable housing projects only. <br />F•\Community Development\SHIP\AHAC\AHAC 2014\AHAC 2014 report.doc <br />'15 <br />60 <br />