10/27/2004 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• AGENDA ITEM V. A STAFF ORIGINATOR: Jeff Smyser P & Z MEETING DATE: October 13, 2004 TOPIC: PUBLIC HEARING (continued) •Rezone to Residential Planned Unit Development •Preliminary Plat Fox Den Acres Royal Oaks Realty BACKGROUND Royal Oaks Realty has requested approval of single family residential development called Fox Den Acres. The comprehensive plan guides the site for low density residential use and it is zoned R -1. The site is within the existing MUSA. The Fox Den Acres project offers a good opportunity to implement the new parks and open space plan through the use of a conservation development. Staff have worked with the Watershed District and Royal Oaks to pursuit these goals. The redesign includes such things as filling and moving lower quality wetlands in order to preserve and increase higher quality wetlands and upland areas. The overall gain in public value will be positive. This conservation development approach, while often discussed in Lino Lakes, has not previously been pursued to the extent we are doing so here. Standard zoning requirements often do not accommodate natural features in this way, and this is an example of that shortcoming. Therefore, a planned unit development is being used. A PUD is not allowed in a single family zone, so a rezone to PUD would be needed. Staff acknowledges that there are a number of details and specifics that normally are resolved by this point in the process. However, staff is comfortable that there is ample time fore these details be addressed. Additional design parameters will be reached before City Council approval. This project has been and will continue to be a learning process for players in several organizations and agencies. Though the design is not at the normal level of detail, there has been more design communication among the players than on any previous project. The discussions have centered not on asking "does this meet the requirements ?" Rather, we have been working to determine what is the best design? The importance of this opportunity to create a first step toward achieving the overall greenway vision for the community warrants the needed flexibility.