09/02/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • • the Resource Management Plan in environmentally sensitive areas within the Low Density Residential designation. This land use category also includes existing unsewered low density residential areas that will eventually be connected to City sewer and water systems. The City will work with landowners to provide utilities. Medium Density Residential The city's Land Use Plan identifies 546 net acres for medium density residential development, or 4.3 percent of the city's total land area (net of wetlands and water bodies). This land use category will accommodate medium density residential development at densities of 3.6. to 7.9 units per net acre. These areas can serve as a transition between lower and higher intensity uses. Development in these areas should consider neighboring uses, and efforts should be made to provide for smooth transitions between medium and low density areas. Several medium density residential areas were also located on sites with environmentally sensitive areas. This provides for increased flexibility for development in these areas. Allowing for higher density on suitable areas of a site will increase the financial feasibility of preserving sensitive areas, and allow for more creative site plans that incorporate natural areas into the site planning process. Standards for development in environmentally sensitive areas will require additional environmental protection measures to reduce stormwater runoff and other environmental impacts of more intense development, as defined in the Resource Management System Plan. • High Density Residential The future land use plan identifies 165 net acres of high density residential uses, or 1.3 percent of the city's total land area (net of wetlands and water bodies). The purpose of this land use category is to accommodate residential development at a density of 8 units per acre or greater. These areas can also serve as a transition between lower and higher intensity uses, such as commercial areas or higher volume roadways. As with medium density residential areas, several high density areas were identified to provide for development flexibility in environmentally sensitive areas. Again, additional environmental protection measures will be in place to reduce the environmental impacts of more intense development in these areas, as defined in the Resource Management System Plan. The Land Use Plan achieves many of the community's residential goals for the future. The plan provides opportunities for affordable and life -cycle housing options in the community by accommodating development at a variety of types and styles. Opportunities for a variety of housing types address the community's goal and related strategies to improve the availability of affordable and life -cycle housing. Development of affordable housing is made more feasible by increasing the allowable density on a site, as land and construction costs per unit are reduced. The provision for medium and high density housing also addresses the community's goal to enhance opportunities for senior housing. As the population ages, the demand for maintenance free options is likely to increase. By locating higher density residential areas to provide transitions between lower density areas and more intense uses, the land use plan addresses the community's goal to ensure that housing development is compatible with existing and adjacent land uses. The community's goal to maintain its existing housing stock is also addressed, as transitions between existing low density 3 -15