12/12/2001 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • AGENDA ITEM V. C STAFF ORIGINATOR: Jeff Smyser C. C. MEETING DATE: December 12, 2001 TOPIC: BACKGROUND PUBLIC HEARING: Ordinance 23 -01 Interim Ordinance Establishing A Moratorium On Residential Development The comprehensive plan sets the policy direction, while the implementation of the plan occurs through official controls such as the subdivision ordinance and zoning ordinance. The new comprehensive plan establishes a policy to significantly reduce the rate of growth in the city. Staff is setting up a process for amending the official controls to implement the plan. This will take some time to complete. We are concerned about the interim. After conferring with the City Attorney, staff believes it is best to adopt a moratorium to protect the City. The proposed ordinance will prohibit most types of residential development activity in the City for one year. ANALYSIS There are three main reasons for the moratorium. First, the City Council approved the comprehensive plan but is still undergoing review by the Metropolitan Council as required by state statute. Until the Met Council approves the plan, the City is in an awkward position between the old, sketchy plan and the new one. Staff has been using the new plan for guidance, but it is not clear how firmly we can stand on it. Second, while the comprehensive plan establishes the policy of reducing growth to an average of 147 per year, the current official controls don't provide the means to ensure implementation of the policy. The City should be in the position where if it wants to deny new development applications, it should have clear and easily defensible reasons. Three, we anticipate new plat, rezoning, and MUSA reserve applications in the very near future. Revising the ordinances will be a major undertaking. We will have the services of our planning consultant, but the project will require significant effort by staff as well. The moratorium will allow staff to devote time to the ordinance project rather than attempting to review new application using ordinances that may or may not support the comprehensive plan. Staff is recommending the moratorium to protect the City until the ordinances are revised.