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<br />• <br /> <br />Meeting Date: 5/12/93 <br />Agenda ItAm_ p _ 3 <br />CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS ~ <br />REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATIO) <br />ITEM DESCRIPTION: Request for administrator to proceed with <br />additional: legal and planning studies for <br />commercial=uses with possible secondary <br />impacts <br />SUBMITTED BY: Susan Hoyt, City Administrat <br />REVIEWED BY: Peter Bachman, City Attorney <br />Fred Hoisington, Planning Consultant <br />EXPLANATION/SUMMARY; <br />Planning for a fully developed, inner-ring suburb has its <br />challenges because the land uses that were established at the <br />time development occurred must adapt to changing markets and <br />lifestyles. When the city adopted a new comprehensive plan in <br />1991, it recognized the need to maintain and enhance the quality <br />of its neighborhoods which includes both residential and <br />commercial uses. <br />To partially accomplish this goal the city contracted with the <br />Hoisington/Koegler planning group to begin a comprehensive review <br />of its commercial zones in October, 1992. The study's purpose <br />is to update the current commercial zoning code to reflect the <br />activity that is appropriate in these zones now and for the <br />future. The council further assured the significance and <br />integrity of this study by adopting a development moratorium in <br />March, 1993 on the advice of the new city attorney who <br />specializes in land use law. <br />As this plannng study proceeds some commercial uses may be <br />identified as having potential secondary impacts on the city's <br />business district and adjacent neighborhoods. Because Falcon <br />Heights residential neighborhoods are within 3OO feet or less of <br />a commercial zone, it is important to evaluate all commercial <br />.retail uses for their impact on these neighborhoods. <br />.Therefore, staff recommends that the commercial zoning study take <br />a two - tract approach toward completion to assure prompt removal <br />of most commercial retail uses from the moratorium, yet maintain <br />the integrity and thoroughness of the review by continuing to <br />study those uses identified for potential secondary impacts. <br />(No impacts have been determined to date). <br />• Staff asks for approval of up to $10,000 for additional planning <br />and legal research associated with the second tract of this <br />study. These services would be charged an hourly rate and <br />monitored carefully. This approach is useful because the extent <br />and depth of required legal and planning studies is not known at <br />this time. <br />