06-11-2020 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 14, 2020 2 The City Planner stated that the Planning Commission is asked to review the final draft of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, noting that the public hearing to review the Plan will be at the City Council meeting on May 27th. Bill Weber stated that changes can be made to the plan after this time, up until the final adoption of the City following the Metropolitan Council review. He noted that they will continue to accept public comments, as they have been for the past several months. He reviewed the purpose of the Comprehensive Plan, which is an update to the 2008 plan that guides land use and zoning, guides investments in public facilities and services, protects surface water, guides revitalization, and satisfies regional requirements. He provided details on the planning process that began in 2017. He reviewed the major themes of the plan: conserve solid neighborhoods while promoting private reinvestment in aging commercial or industrial districts, guide infill and modest replacement housing, intensify development along Rice Street, protect surface water and improve walking and biking. He provided details on the land use plan and highlighted areas proposed to change. The City Administrator referenced the area between CR D and Alan Avenue which was recently relisted for sale. He stated that the City has received interest in the parcel but not for industrial use and instead for medium to high density residential. Mr. Weber stated that it would be logical and reasonable that the parcel could be residential rather than industrial. The City Administrator stated that rezoning would be required as the parcel is currently zoned R- 1. Mr. Weber stated that the existing residential to the east is used to the open space and therefore he would recommend transitioning between the two areas. He stated that the area should either all be residential, or all be industrial and not a mix of the two uses. Acting Chair Kwapick referenced the plan to construct pedestrian and bike paths over 35E and stated that would be a great amenity to connect the community. He referenced a parcel proposed to be rezoned to industrial adjacent to R-1 residential and asked if that would create a conflict. Mr. Weber stated that would assume that the residents in that area are in agreement to sell their property to an industrial developer. He noted that all the residential properties would need to agree to sell at the same time in order to support that change in use. He stated that the City could remain open to allowing residential. He stated that with the information from the City Administrator, perhaps those two parcels should be changed to high density housing. The City Administrator stated that is a possibility, but it is also nice to have flexibility on that larger, 17 acre parcel. He noted that whatever land use is shown should indicate flexibility.