05/02/1979 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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261 A special meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider a proposed ordinance change was called jto order by Ken Gourley, Chairman, at 8:05 p.m. Members present: Jerome Heath, Lawrence Johnson, VI Schwankl, Bod Doocy, and Council liasan John McLean. Vernon Reinert and James Shearen were not present. Minutes from the April 4, 1979 special meeting were laid aside for approval at the May 16th meeting. A samplce ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 56 and Mo. 56A had been prepared by The city attorney and was submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission.' Revisions under consideration were' the minimum lot size for the construction of a single family dwelling and served by municipal sewer and water, and the square footage requirements for the construction of single family homes. Mr. Johnson presented for consideration several general ideas on city planning and zoning which he has come across in the course of.his background research on population density. He estimates approximately a month to fully analyze and collate:.his literature and information for presentation to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mr. Johnson has contacted city planners and city adminis- trators from Little Canada; Lakeville, Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, Lake Elmo, Maple Grove and Mendota Heights, as well as officials form Twin City.Federal, Minnesota Federal, and Northwestern Banks. Mr. Johnson particularly stressed the policy of most of these cities in requiring garages with all new housing. It was brought out that although there are often no ordinances against units without garages, there are what are called developer agreements. There was some question as to the possible situation of a private landowner building his own home. Mr. Johnson also indicated that in these cities it was rare to handle plats with variances, and that variances are rarely if ever granted. He also indicated that these cities don't allow residential homes to be built in commercial areas; that whatever the zoning called for was strictly adhered to.. Mr. Heath raised the question of whether zoning as a rule was restricted to a certain use or whether it included any lesser use as well.' Mr. Johnson also brought up the fact that although there are several different methods used, an effective way to handle approval of zoning and subdivisions is to give the builders the ordinances when they come in, and when they want to get together they call in their city planner, city administrator, city engineer and so, on, and start the clock; and that's how these people get paid. They make a deposit when they bring in a plat and the fees come out of that. Mr. Johnson was recommended a book on city planning which he would like to order on behalf of the Planning and Zoning Commission. VI Schwankl presented information from a publication entitled "Advisory Land Use Standards for Multifamily Dwellings': put out by the Metropelitan Council in St. Paul. She also quoted figures on minimum Jot sizes and square feetage for for single family dwellings from communities such as Apple Valley, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Falcon Heights, and St. Loiis Park. Only one of these communities had ordinanees requiring a garage (Blaine); lot sizes ran from 7,200 sq. ft. to 11,000 sq. ft. and requirements on house sizes ran from none (Falcon Heights) to 1,040 sq. ft. Mr. Blaekbird presented some material to the Planning and Zoning Commission, among which was an excerpt of recommendations by the Metropolitan Council to local communities, dated from August, 1977. It was recommended that garages not be required for single family or multifamily housing, and that -minimum house sizes or float' areas not be requited or reevaluated in light of high houslmg costs. Mr. Johnson suggested that if it was thought to be benificial, he could request