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Planning & Zoning Board <br />May 12, 2021 <br />Page 5 <br /> <br />APPROVED MINUTES <br /> <br />Mr. Grochala stated that in most cases you get upland that the City wouldn’t <br />otherwise preserve. The city is looking for that upland buffer that the City doesn’t <br />want to pay for through park dedication but can get through lot flexibility and provide <br />that compromise. <br /> <br />Mr. Reinert commented that open space should be considered only buildable <br />property. This will incentivize the developer to not want to shrink lots too much. <br />This will also allow the residents of that development to use that open space. <br /> <br />Mr. Laden concurred with Mr. Reinert stating that our goal is to preserve space that <br />otherwise wouldn’t be preserved. <br /> <br />Mr. Root stated that any open space should be upland and useable by people. He <br />commented that we should not be using wetlands and unbuildable land in exchange <br />for smaller lot sizes because they are not usable, the City would be giving the <br />developer smaller lot sizes for nothing in return. <br /> <br />Mr. Wipperfurth commented that there is a trade-off. If you are going to make the <br />developer give up buildable area the lot prices increase. The community might be <br />getting more open space but the landowners’ prices would be increased. <br /> <br />Mr. Laden commented that he has seen some developments where developers put <br />smaller lots in the backyard and call the remainder of the lot conservation land that <br />the owner does not own and can’t develop. He commented that what ends up <br />happening is the homeowner treats that conservation area as an extension of their <br />yard. He asks whether there is a way to eliminate this practice from happening. <br /> <br />Mr. Reinert commented that if developers are going to shrink a lot and create open <br />space that open space must be the same type of land that they are developing. He <br />stated that this creates a real incentive for developers not to shrink lots too far. <br /> <br />Mr. Vojtech commented that he thought the use of incentives to get what the City <br />wants is a fantastic idea. This is just one more tool to shape the City the way we <br />want. <br /> <br />Mr. Tralle stated that he is not in favor of adding any more incentives for developers. <br /> <br />Mr. Reinert clarified stating that if the developer wants to shrink down the lots but to <br />do so would need to leave buildable open space the developer is incentivized to not <br />shrink the lots too much. The developer will not want to leave too much buildable <br />open space undeveloped. <br /> <br />Mr. Tralle asked how far from a project a resident is notified. <br /> <br />Ms. Larsen stated that a rezoning is 600 feet.