Laserfiche WebLink
1 <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />REGULAR MEETING STAFF REPORT <br />AGENDA ITEM 6C <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Katie Larsen, City Planner <br />MEETING DATE: October 9, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Consider Denial of Ordinance No. 12-23 Zoning Ordinance <br />Text Amendment-Synthetic Grass <br />VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The applicant, Troy Johnson of ForeverLawn Minnesota Inc., submitted a Land Use Application <br />on behalf of Jon Lipinski, 75 Robinson Drive, for a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to allow <br />synthetic grass/artificial turf as an approved ground cover. <br />BACKGROUND <br />On August 10, 2023 a crew performing landscaping work at 75 Robinson Drive had removed <br />turf grass and soil and added rock in preparation for installation of synthetic grass that would <br />cover a large portion of the lot. A stop work order was issued for the site at that time due to <br />the violation of City Code requirements. <br />Currently, the zoning ordinance requires sod or seed as ground cover. There is no exception for <br />synthetic grass. <br />City Code Section 1007.043(17): <br />(h)Sod and Ground Cover. All areas not otherwise improved in compliance with the <br />approved site plans shall have a minimum depth of four (4) inches of topsoil and <br />be sodded including boulevard areas. Exceptions to these criteria may be <br />approved by the Zoning Administrator as follows: <br />1.Seed may be provided in lieu of sod in any of the following cases: <br />a.Where the seed is applied to future expansion areas as shown on the <br />approved plans, or <br />Attachment 7: October 9, 2023 Council Staff Report including Ordinance No. 12-23