11/03/2004 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

• • • Amending Growth Management Policy page 2 collaborative process in which certain stipulated public values are sought in exchange for greater flexibility on general development requirements and the growth limits defined under the policy. The Fox Den Acres project offers a good opportunity to implement the new parks and open space plan through the use of a conservation development. The project is going through a very collaborative process that includes city staff, the Rice Creek Watershed District, and the developer. Instead of asking "does the project meet the requirements ?" we have been asking "what is the best design ?" The design includes such things as filling and moving lower quality wetlands in order to preserve and increase higher quality wetlands and upland areas. The overall gain in public value will be positive. Options for Amending the Policy The adopted ordinance is attached, with amendment options added. Added language is shown in underlined text. Deleted language is shown in strikeout text. We have presented two options. Both would add a new Section 3 of the ordinance. • Option 1 would exempt conservation development from the growth restrictions. That is, a conservation development would be subject to neither the annual MUSA allocation limit (36 acres per year) nor the units restriction (147 per year or 1029 total for Stage 1). • Option 2 allows a conservation development to final plat lots /units two years in advance of its approved phasing plan. That is, it would still have a phasing plan but the number of lots /units in the phasing plans could be moved ahead by two years. In effect, the first three years of units could be final platted in year one. With either option: The Stage 1 and Stage 2 growth boundaries still apply. These are the areas within which growth is to occur. The total MUSA reserve for stage 1 would still apply: 300.7 residential acres for stage 1. We currently have 130 acres remaining. We could not exceed this because this is what we received from the Metropolitan Council, based on the amount listed in the comprehensive plan. The prohibition on premature development would still apply. The subdivision ordinance prohibits premature development to ensure adequate infrastructure exists to support new residential development. All growth restrictions would still apply for conventional development. In fact, the proposed amendments include eliminating the discretionary 20% additional annual growth for conventional development.