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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION NOVEMBER 17, 2008 DRAFT 46 Ms. Schlichting then discussed affordability and the council's questions regarding strategies. 47 Although the Met Council calls for a certain number, it is expected that it will be spread out. 48 The city can be aggressive in accommodating affordable housing through incentives and like 49 means to provide affordability as a part of development projects. An approved city housing 50 policy can put certain requirements into place for development. 51 52 Ms. Schlichting reviewed with the council the Growth Management Tools "punch list". Natural 53 resources are one tool — the city has a park plan and uses it. Other tools are the Development 54 Suitability Analysis, the Handbook for Environmental Planning and Conservation Development, 55 Planned Unit Development (PUD) development and the Rice Creek Watershed District Lino 56 Lakes Resource Management Plan. The availability of infrastructure will also be used to 57 determine the timing and feasibility of new growth.. Land use and transportation system 58 consideration may be a part of the development permitting process. In addition, utility staging of 59 sewer and municipal water service will be a key factor to determine the timing of future growth. 60 Official controls also will come into plan in growth management, including zoning regulations, 61 subdivision regulations and the official zoning map (the rules and regulations that will govern 62 city decisions regarding growth and development) and updates to those official documents to 63 ensure consistency with the Plan. 64 65 The council plans to eventually schedule a joint meeting with the Comprehensive Plan Advisory 66 Panel but will continue their discussion in the work session setting as necessary. A council 67 member expressed concern that the council should be recommending some changes to the Plan 68 as it was brought forward by staff A council member suggested that the following topics could 69 be discussed with the panel: incorporation into the Plan of a top end range number on the high 70 density and also discussion about the 6600 number and why the panel felt that was the right 71 number. In developing a recommendation regarding density, the council discussed the current 72 criteria (6 -12 per acre), the possibility of using incentives (density bonuses), and if setting a cap 73 is appropriate. 74 75 The council indicated that they would like to hear from the panel about how they came to the 76 6600 recommendation. In the meantime, the council requests more information such as how 77 many of those units would be in the "already approved" category; and also what is "in fill" and 78 what is seen a new -on- the - fringe. 79 80 A member asked that the council be provided with pertinent information coming from the 81 Metropolitan Council used to set the formula and establish density recommendations for cities, 82 along with any background that went into the formula_ It would be preferable to have the 83 information for review prior to the next work session discussion. 84 85 The joint meeting with the advisory panel will most likely be scheduled for January. The council 86 will discuss the Plan again at the regular December work session. 87 88 The meeting was adjourned at 7:27 p.m. 89 90 • •