03/12/2003 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Board February 12, 2003 Pige 50 DRAFT MINUTES Chair Schaps asked how do they provide housing for the average person. Mr. Lyden stated there was already in existence housing that was affordable and they needed housing that would support themselves. Chair Schaps noted smaller homes were not being constructed. Mr. Rafferty expressed concern that a 10,800 square foot land was not buildable to today's standards. He stated he would like to see R -1 at the R -1X size and make the R- 1X size larger. He stated a quarter acre lot was small. He stated this was a good suggestion for the City to look at. Mr. Corson expressed concern about affordable housing. He noted with energy costs and property taxes going up, people may not always be able to afford to build large homes. Mr. Tralle asked why the average person could not live in the City. He noted the average person could not afford to live in the City. Mr. Rafferty replied the cost of the lots are too expensive. Mr. Lyden pointed out the City did not have to be everything for everybody. Mr. Grochala noted the cost of the lots depended on the characteristics of the land. He noted the City had added an additional district of R -1XEC which was the combination of R -1 and R -1X. He noted the developers were always going to maximize the property. Mr. Rafferty stated the reality was that Lino Lakes might not be the starter home community for people. Chair Schaps noted the committee had decided they wanted the diversity of choice and that was the reason it R -1 was left in. He noted the market was going to drive this and he did not see this happening anyway, so it does no harm to leave R -1 in the Ordinance. Mr. Rafferty asked who would be in favor of changing the minimum size of the R -1 lot to 12,800 sq. ft. and the R -1X changed to 15,800 sq. ft. Mr. Smyser pointed out the task force had discussed this they had determined what would work for the lot sizes. He stated whenever discussions arise in any community, he wondered if people who invested in their community and live in townhomes hear everyone hated townhomes, what are they to think. He stated he would feel insulted. Mr. Rafferty noted this was not a criticism to anyone, but by having larger lot sizes, it would only benefit the resident. Mr. Smyser pointed out as the lots got bigger, the price went up. Mr. Smyser noted there was quite a lot of discussion nationwide among religious organizations that there were a lot of people being excluded from communities for various reasons (economics, life- styles, retirees). He asked where are these people suppose to go when they could not afford to live in the community any longer. He stated the City was excluding these people and the more expensive the City made things, fewer people would be able to live here. He stated ethical concerns were extremely important. DRAFT MINUTES •