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MEMORANDUM <br />DATE: March 20, 2008 <br />TO: Members of the Plan Commission <br />FROM: Frank Hill, Zoning Administrator / Manager of Current Planning Services <br />RE: Zoning Code Text Amendment – Section 34-55.1(4)(c) “Setbacks for Air <br />Conditioning Units” <br />This proposed amendment to the Zoning Code deals with the distance air conditioning units must <br />be placed from the side property lines. Currently, the Zoning Code requires that a/c units be set <br />back at least 2’ from the side property lines. This standard previously worked out fine with the <br />current side yard setback for homes being 5’ to side property line. There was usually <br />approximately 1’ between the house and the a/c unit (for required air flow distance), the a/c units <br />were typically 1’ to 2’ feet wide and then there would be 2’ to 3’ to the side property line. <br />Due to new guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Energy, in order to increase energy <br />efficiency, the size of the average a/c unit has increased to between 2’ and 3’, instead of 1’ to 2’ <br />as they previously were. For a more detailed explanation, see Appendix A, the attached <br />background information memo. <br />This has resulted in some a/c unit installations having to be placed closer to the house than 1’ <br />(which restricts air flow) or having them located further back in the rear yard, causing the extra <br />expense of running lines from the common places on the side of the house where the electrical <br />and HVAC systems are typically located. <br />Therefore, Staff is proposing to lessen the side yard setback from 2’ to 1’ to the side property <br />line to accommodate the larger change in width of the a/c units. The required set back is in place <br />to have open space between yards and to have a little distance between properties to diminish <br />noise. The change in the side yard set back from 2’ to 1’ is not significant and will still allow <br />open space between properties. Noise reduction is one of the goals of the new a/c unit <br />regulations, so that should not be a problem either. A difference of 1’ would not significantly <br />increase the amount of noise coming form an a/c unit. <br />bolded <br />PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT (wording is addition; stricken wording is deleted): <br />. <br />34-55.1 General setback exceptions <br />Every part of a yard between the property lines and the required building setback line shall <br />be unoccupied and unobstructed by any structure or portion of a structure from ground <br />level of the graded lot upward, except for: <br />4. Side Yards. <br />one foot <br />c. Air conditioning equipment located not less than two feet from the side lot line. <br />__________ Reviewed and approved by Lehman Walker, Director of Community Development <br /> <br />