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Land Use Plan change requests <br />At the May 11, 2009 council meeting the City Council received request from Teresa <br />Weinkauf (797 Main Street) to change the proposed land use from Low Density <br />Residential to Commercial. A letter requesting this change from the Weinkauf s and two <br />surrounding property owners is attached. <br />The council also received a request from Jeff Joyer (Waldoch Farm Garden Center) to <br />retain a 600' by 600' commercial land use designation on the farm site. <br />Information relating to these requests is enclosed with this report. <br />Affordable Housing Ordinance <br />A request was made at the meeting for staff to prepare an ordinance to restrict or control <br />the growth of affordable housing. No ordinance has been prepared at this time and staff <br />is requesting further clarification of the City Council's interest in preparing such an <br />ordinance. <br />Following consultation with the City Attorney it appears that such a request is in direct <br />conflict with the Metropolitan Land Use Planning Act, Minnesota Statues, Section <br />473.859, subd. 2, paragraph c, which states: <br />A land use plan shall also include a housing element containing standards, plans <br />and programs for providing adequate housing opportunities to meet existing and <br />projected local and regional housing needs, including but not limited to the use of official <br />controls and land use planning to promote the availability of land for the development of <br />low and moderate income housing. <br />Additionally, The council in collaboration with the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Panel <br />determined to include a goal in the housing plan that states: <br />"Strive to integrate affordable housing in all residential land use districts" <br />Controlling or otherwise restricting affordable housing also appears to be in conflict with <br />this goal. <br />Staff has previously discussed ordinances and/or policies related to affordable housing <br />with the council. However, these discussions have been focused on determining the <br />appropriate method for the city to promote affordability. <br />At the April 6, 2009 meeting, the City Council and staff discussed ordinances that could <br />provide ways for affordable housing to be distributed throughout residential districts <br />within the city. At that meeting staff recommended that, rather than a "stand alone" <br />ordinance, affordable housing be incorporated into the PUD provisions of the Zoning <br />Ordinance. With a PUD, the city council could weigh all public values listed in the <br />2 <br />