06-03-2021, 08:14 AM
Maybe that’s why we see so many stacked townhouses. That design uses 4 floors in a way that I’m guessing doesn’t trigger the elevator requirement.
Anyway, this is all insane (except for the 15% accessible; that can easily be accommodated by making some of the ground-floor units accessible). Thanks for the education in excessive and inappropriate regulation (although at least in this case clearly well-meaning).
In particular, if it’s OK to have ground floor plus 2 floors above with no elevator, it’s simply irrational to demand an elevator if I now add a basement level below. If level 3 is OK with no basement, it’s OK with a basement. Perhaps a rule like “every floor must be within 2 flights of stairs of a level entrance” would be more appropriate. But zoning rules are normally written based on a lot of arbitrary and stereotypical assumptions about how buildings interact with their environment so this isn’t exactly off-brand.
Anyway, this is all insane (except for the 15% accessible; that can easily be accommodated by making some of the ground-floor units accessible). Thanks for the education in excessive and inappropriate regulation (although at least in this case clearly well-meaning).
In particular, if it’s OK to have ground floor plus 2 floors above with no elevator, it’s simply irrational to demand an elevator if I now add a basement level below. If level 3 is OK with no basement, it’s OK with a basement. Perhaps a rule like “every floor must be within 2 flights of stairs of a level entrance” would be more appropriate. But zoning rules are normally written based on a lot of arbitrary and stereotypical assumptions about how buildings interact with their environment so this isn’t exactly off-brand.