Re:The case to legalize single-stair multifamily housing
by seanmcdirmid on Thursday January 18, 2024 @08:14PM
(#39050413)
Ya. My setback is 3 feet, definitely just a margin for fire safety. I wanted to put an awning in but couldn't because it would be too close to the fence of my property boundary (I live in a town home that abuses the 3 foot setback to maximize living space).
Re:The case to legalize single-stair multifamily housing
by fires10 on Thursday January 18, 2024 @08:47PM
(#39050650)
I have minimum lot size of 5 acres. Can't see the wisdom in that one. I also have a minimum square footage size. $20,000 impact fee just to build a house and I receive no utilities or city/ county services.
Re:The case to legalize single-stair multifamily housing
by Spivak on Thursday January 18, 2024 @09:43PM
(#39051002)
I wish more than anything we could legislate the fee structures backwards. If the government wants an environmental impact study then the government is footing the bill for it. Putting it on the builder is stupid and just a way of hiding the budget item in other people's wallets.
Re:The case to legalize single-stair multifamily housing
by seanmcdirmid on Friday January 19, 2024 @12:07AM
(#39051767)
Ok, the government will fund your environmental impact study so you can build, but...oh...given their budget they will have it done sometime in 2100.
Re:The case to legalize single-stair multifamily housing
by ajmurmann on Thursday January 18, 2024 @09:09PM
(#39050792)
> Side setbacks absolutely have an effect on fire safety
Sure, but is the benefit worth the cost? Manhattan and denser European cities without those haven't burned down since we fireproofed building materials
Re:The case to legalize single-stair multifamily housing
by Schiendelman on Thursday January 18, 2024 @11:27PM
(#39051559)
And yet other areas let buildings be physically against each other if they're built not to spread fire. Just let everyone do that.
Front setbacks and lot area coverage ratios have a more minor version of this same effect from fires across the street. It takes a pretty good sized fire to ignite the building across a street, but as density increases and more of a lot's area is able to covered with structures, the chances to get a pretty good sized fire going do increase.