01/14/2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Y • STAFF ORIGINATOR: C. C. MEETING DATE: TOPIC: VOTE: BACKGROUND AGENDA ITEM 7 A Jeff Smyser January 14, 2002 SECOND READING: Ordinance 23 -01 Interim Ordinance Establishing A Moratorium On Residential Development 3/5 The comprehensive plan sets the policy direction, while the implementation of the plan occurs through official controls such as the subdivision ordinance and zoning ordinance. Staff has set up a process for amending the official controls to implement the plan. A moratorium will protect the City while this is occurring. The proposed ordinance will prohibit most types of residential development activity in the City for one year. • The City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 23 -01 on December 17. • ANALYSIS There are three main reasons for the moratorium. First, the comprehensive plan is still undergoing review by the Metropolitan Council as required by state statute. Until the Met Council approves the plan, the City is in an awkward position between the old, sketchy plan and the new one. Second, the comprehensive plan establishes numerous policies such as reducing growth and preserving environmental features through better design, among others. The current official controls don't provide the means to implement these policies. If the City wants to deny new development applications that aren't consistent with its policies, it should have clear and easily defensible reasons that are supported in the ordinances. Three, we anticipate new development applications in the very near future. The moratorium will allow staff and consultants to devote resources to the ordinance project rather than attempting to review new applications using ordinances that may or may not support the comprehensive plan.