11/10/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Excerpts from Draft 2030 Comprehensive Plan Growth Management Tools Many elements of the Comprehensive Plan and subsequent zoning ordinances and subdivision code updates will be focused on our effort to ensure quality development that does not negatively impact natural features of the community. As the City grows, growth will be shaped and managed in a variety of ways: • The City's abundant natural resources will have a significant effect on the city's development pattern, as development in environmentally sensitive areas will be managed appropriately to ensure protection of resources. The City has several tools to protect these resources. • The City's growth will also be shaped by the availability of infrastructure, as urban - scale development is not feasible without municipal sewer and water service. A staging plan, which identifies the timing and phasing for sewer service to all areas within the city, was developed as part of the Comprehensive Plan process. Additionally, growth will be timed to ensure that appropriate infrastructure and transportation improvements are completed to accommodate new development. • The City's official controls, such as zoning regulations, subdivision regulations, and the official zoning map, must be updated to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. These controls represent the rules and regulations that govern city decisions regarding growth and development. • Finally, the City's Growth Management Policy provides for additional flexibility to manage growth in an efficient manner while still responding to market conditions. The policy works in conjunction with the staging plan, as it dictates the criteria for moving from one staging area to another. Each of these growth management tools are discussed in greater detail below: Protection of Natural Resources The City has several tools to protect natural areas while also managing future growth. These tools include: • Parks, Natural Open Space, and Trail System Plan (2004): The Lino Lakes Parks, Natural Open Space, and Trail System Plan identifies a future park, trail, & greenway system throughout the city. This plan provides a framework for restoring and managing the city's natural resource areas, and enables the City to prioritize sensitive areas for preservation. The City uses this plan in working with developers to preserve open space and natural areas, and will continue to do so as development occurs. • Suitability Analysis:This suitability analysis compiled a variety of natural resource data, including information on wetlands, plant communities, rare plant species, and soils to determine areas marginally suitable for development, moderately suitable for development, and highly suitable for development. The suitability map was consulted during the development of the Land Use Plan. This data will be available to property owners /developers for preparing site plans and for staff to use during the development review and approval process to ensure that development suitability of each site is considered. • Handbook for Environmental Planning and Conservation Development: The Handbook (published in December 1999) provides detailed guidance to enable the City to establish a viable conservation development program, and includes: a natural resources based planning model and framework, an overview 1