The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About8B - Comp Plan Amendment MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: REVIEWED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT JANUARY 22, 2001 8B JANE KANSIER, PLANNING COORDINATOR DONALD RYE, PLANNING DIRECTOR CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE TEXT OF THE 2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RELATING TO THE LOCATION CRITERIA FOR LAND DESIGNATED AS LOW TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL History: When the Comprehensive Plan was updated in 1995, it was initially proposed there be three separate categories of residential land use in the Comprehensive Plan, namely Low, Medium and High Density Residential. This was the recommendation of the Planning Commission to the Council at that time. During the course of the Council's review, the Council decided to combine the Low and Medium categories into one. The rationale was that this would give the Council more control over the location of medium density (townhouse) projects. On March 6, 2000, the City Council directed the Planning Commission to consider the issue of the Low to Medium Density Residential land use classification in the Comprehensive Plan with the idea that the City Council would have the sole authority to determine whether a project should be built at the lower R-l (Low Density Residential) density or the higher R-2 (Low to Medium Density Residential) or R-3 (Medium Density Residential) density. The permitted density in the R-l district is 3.6 units per acre. The R-2 and R-3 districts permit a maximum density of 7.2 units per acre. The Commission considered this issue on June 12, 2000, and again on August 14, 2000. After considerable discussion, the Planning Commission concluded the text of the Comprehensive Plan should be amended to add language specifying that the Council has discretion in these matters. The City Council considered this item at its meeting on October 2, 2000. The Council deferred action on this item in order to discuss this further with the Planning Commission. At a workshop on October 30, 1:\OOfiles\OOcompam\OO-023\00023cc2.doc Page 1 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER r- 7" T "Y 1m 2000, the Council and the Planning Commission discussed the need to establish a set of criteria that can be applied when reviewing requests for zone changes in the R/LMD designation. The staff was directed to work with the City Attorney to prepare criteria for Council consideration. Current Circumstances: The current criterion in the Comprehensive Plan for locating zoning districts reads as follows: Determination of specific districts characteristic of this classification will be based upon consideration of several factors including but not limited to topography, geography, existing development and character of the surrounding area, transportation system access and market conditions. This language is very general. While it provides little direction in determining the proper zoning district to be applied on a given piece of property, it does provide general criteria to consider in making those decisions. The Planning Commission originally suggested the following sentence be added to the existing language: The City Council has the ultimate authority in making the determination of how this criterion is applied in any given situation. Issues: The text of the Comprehensive Plan and the location of the land use designations are policy decisions. The amendment originally recommended by the Planning Commission does not add additional criteria nor does it specify when or how the given criteria should be applied. Rather, it spells out the fact the City Council has the ultimate decision making authority in these cases. Following the workshop on October 30, 2000, the Council and the Planning Commission agreed a specific set of criteria is appropriate. In order to establish this criteria, the staff suggests the following language (in bold italics) be added to the Comprehensive Plan: "Determination of specific districts characteristic of this classification will be based upon consideration of several factors including but not limited to topography, geography, existing development and character of the surrounding area, transportation system access and market conditions. The City Council has the ultimate authority in making the determination of how this criterion is applied in any given situation. 1:\OOfiles\OOcompam\OO-023 \00023cc2.doc Page 2 ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDED MOTION: REVIEWED BY: Whether a given area should be zoned for low density or medium density development will depend on a variety of factors. In making the determination as to what district is appropriate at a given location, the Planning Commission and City Council shall consider the following criteria: . The topography of the site. . Capacity of utilities serving the site. . Type and nature of abutting or nearby development. . Type and quality of access to local, collector and arterial streets. . Effect on traffic levels of service. . Market conditions. . Any costs incurred by the City as a result of the development. . The degree to which significant naturalfeatures are preserved . Whether the proposed zoning supports the logical extension of existing neighborhoods. . Whether the zoning district is delineated by logical natural or artificial boundaries. . The impact on drainage patterns and conditions and the degree to which any adverse impacts can be mitigated. . Potential impacts on the physical condition of streets and roads serving the site. " rnnrlm;:;nn. The staff recommends approval of the proposed amendment. The City Council has three alternatives: 1. Adopt a Resolution approving the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the R-L/MD designation as recommended. 2. Direct staff to prepare a resolution with findings of fact denying the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the R-L/MD designation. 3. Continue the review for specific information or reasons per City Council discussion. Alternative #1. A motion and second to approve a resolution approving the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment to the R- L/MD designation as recommended is required. l anager I :\OOfiles\OOcompam\OO-023\00023cc2.doc r- 7'i Page 3 1 . y !MII'" RESOLUTION 01.XX RESOLUTION APPROVING A PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE 2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND RELATING TO THE LOCATION CRITERIA FOR LAND DESIGNATED FOR LOW TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL USES MOTION BY: SECOND BY: WHEREAS, on August 14, 2000, the City of Prior Lake Planning Commission initiated an amendment to the text of the City of Prior Lake 2020 Comprehensive Plan relating to the location criteria for land designated for Low to Medium Density Residential uses; and WHEREAS, legal notice of the public hearing was duly published and mailed in accordance with Minnesota Statutes and Prior Lake City Code; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on September 11, 2000, for those interested in this request to present their views; and WHEREAS, on September 11, 2000, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed amendment to the text of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan on the basis the text amendment is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, on October 2, 2000, the Prior Lake City Council considered the proposed amendment to the text of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map and; WHEREAS, the City Council received the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment along with the staff reports and the minutes of the Planning Commission meeting; and WHEREAS, the City Council directed the staff to prepare language including a specific set of criteria that can be applied when reviewing requests for zoning in areas designated for Low to Medium Density Residential uses; and WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully considered the testimony, staff reports and other pertinent information contained in the record of decision of this case. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA, that: 1. The above recitations are herein fully incorporated as set forth above. 2. The following language (in bold italics) is hereby added to the text of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan as it relates to the location criteria for land to be designated for Low to Medium Density Residential uses: Determination of specific districts characteristic of this classification will be based upon consideration of several factors including but not limited to topography, geography, existing development and 1:\OOfiles\OOcompam\OO-023\rsO I xxcc.doc Page 1 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER I ,; . f .-.-'-.'."'.., . II,. character of the surrounding area, transportation system access and market conditions. The City Council has the ultimate authority in making the determination of how this criterion is applied in any given situation. Whether a given area should be zoned for low density or medium density development will depend on a variety of factors. In making the determination as to what district is appropriate at a given location, the Planning Commission and City Council shall consider the following criteria: . The topography of the site. . Capacity of utilities serving the site. . Type and nature of abutting or nearby development. . Type and quality of access to local, collector and arterial streets. . Effect on traffic levels of service. . Market conditions. . Any costs incurred by the City as a result of the development. . The degree to which significant natural features are preserved . Whether the proposed zoning supports the logical extension of existing neighborhoods. . Whether the zoning district is delineated by logical natural or artificial boundaries. . The impact on drainage patterns and conditions and the degree to which any adverse impacts can be mitigated. . Potential impacts on the physical condition of streets and roads serving the site. 3. Approval of this amendment is subject to the approval of the Metropolitan Council. Passed and adopted this 22nd day of January, 2001. YES NO Mader Mader Ericson Ericson Gundlach Gundlach Petersen Petersen Zieska Zieska {Seal} Frank Boyles, City Manager City of Prior Lake 1:\OOfiIes\OOcompam\OO-023\rsOlxxcc.doc Page 2