02/11/2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

1 COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 14, 2002 staff was attempting to protect the planning process and ensure the goals and policies in the new Comprehensive Plan are carried out with all future development. He stated enacting a moratorium will allow staff to do this and will ensure there are no questions about whether or not the new regulations are being applied. Community Development Director Grochala stated the primary concern for staff was whether the Council would be comfortable with the possibility of approving the two subdivisions based on the existing ordinances. He acknowledged it would not be impossible for staff to review the two applications in conjunction with working on the new ordinances. Councilmember Reinert noted another issue was the fact that the City does not have MUSA available at this time. He indicated the current plats before the City require MUSA and, even if they met the current ordinances, they could not be granted approval because there is no MUSA available. Community Development Director Grochala concurred. Councilmember O'Donnell believed, even though the City currently has no MUSA available, the hope would be that if the developers would be allowed to move forward with their preliminary plat applications, the City would have MUSA available once the Comprehensive Plan is approved by the Metropolitan Council. Councilmember Reinert stated if MUSA were to become available in the near future to apply to the plats, then this would change his understanding :6f C .ty's position at this time. Community Development Director Grochala explained that once the Comprehensive Plan review is completed by Metropolitan Council and the plan becomes effective, then MUSA would become available to allocate. Therefore, it hazy be possible,that within two months the City may have available the 359 acres of MUSS. that had been requested. Councilmember Carlson noted propertiesAcurrently located in a MUSA area could request approval for development. Additionally, she recalled in the past instances where MUSA exchanges have occurred. City Planner Smyser agreed there is a possibility of MUSA exchange. He indicated this would be at the sole discretion of the City Council and is rarely done. City Administrator Waite Smith stated the only MUSA exchange that has occurred involved the VFW, who owned both parcels of land. Mayor Bergeson called for a motion on the second reading of Ordinance 23 -01. Councilmember O'Donnell moved to approve the SECOND reading of Ordinance 23 -01, Interim Ordinance Establishing a Moratorium on Residential Development, as presented. Councilmember Carlson seconded the motion. Councilmember O'Donnell moved to amend the motion providing that Section 3E(1) of the ordinance be amended to include an exemption to the moratorium for preliminary plats which have been 14