ᐅ Multi-family Building: Placement of Residential Units, Trees, and Other Elements

Hello.

I am considering a plot of land and have the following questions:

1. A multi-family house is planned to be built. Are there any regulations regarding how the individual residential units must be arranged within the building? I want to build something like a townhouse with an additional unit above (so three units in total; just not stacked directly on top of each other).

2. There are trees on the property, unfortunately in the area where parking spaces could be located. I see hardly any other options. Is it possible to obtain tree removal permits (the trees are protected by a tree protection ordinance)?

3. On the development plan, there is a feature marked that I cannot identify. It is an irregular "path" with a checkered pattern, see attached.

Thank you very much for your help.

Reiner_1978

Hello Reiner,

How you divide the house is up to you – as long as the zoning plan is followed, you can shift the individual residential units as you wish.

Regarding the trees, I would recommend checking directly with the city or local council – no one here can provide you with a reliable answer.

The "irregular, checkered path" could possibly be a utility easement – if nothing about this is mentioned in the zoning plan legend, it would also be best to inquire with the city or local council.

Best regards,

Dirk

Thanks for the quick reply.

I only heard from the city that the requirements are 3 full floors with a shed roof (+ optional recessed top floor), maximum height 14 m (46 feet). The building envelope is also shown in the picture.

Does that mean I am free regarding the windows as well? I want to install nice large French doors on the first floor with access to the terraces. It should not look like the usual multi-family houses.

I'm having a bit of trouble with the image – is the purple frame the building envelope, or does it represent the entire plot?

You can plan windows relatively freely, as long as nothing else is specified in the zoning plan. You just need to be careful with walls directly on the property boundary, where standard windows are only allowed to a very limited extent.

Here is the image again, a bit larger.
The frame (purple) marks the building area: 16.50 * 14 m (54.1 * 45.9 ft)... I plan to use 15 * 12 m (49.2 * 39.4 ft)... Are ground-level terraces allowed to be outside the building area?

Questions, questions... ;-)

Trees cannot be cut down "just like that" once they reach a certain size (measured by trunk circumference). The surveyor includes all trees in the official site plan. The building authority may then involve the environmental agency in the approval process for the building permit / planning permission. As a result, the building permit will specify how you must handle the trees, for example, cutting may be allowed if you plant a certain number of replacement trees on your property. It may also be possible to pay a fee instead of planting replacement trees. Cutting might not be permitted during bird breeding season.

This was our experience.

Your local regulations may differ. Approach the environmental agency politely and explain your situation.

Addendum: For the tree located within the building area, you will likely receive a felling permit without any issues and will probably be allowed to cut it down at any time.