01/13/2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 13, 2003 APPROVED the City Attorney to include the language needed to justify the exception of "The Village." A copy of the ordinance showing the changes can be considered at the next meeting. Mayor Bergeson stated this is good discussion and areas of concern need to be raised now so staff can begin work on them. Councilmember Carlson stated concern that the goal be defensible, especially if exceptions are added. She asked if that would not make it more difficult to defend. She noted this is not in the Comprehensive Plan and another option is to spread the units over the life of the Comprehensive Plan but not go beyond the 7,575 housing units. Councilmember Carlson stated she realizes the pressure the City is under for more growth and that the City may need to look at that. She noted this Growth Management Plan is to be reviewed on an annual basis but if it goes into effect it needs to be done based on what is included in the Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Reinert suggested that the additional language be included prior to consideration of second reading. He noted that including the units but staying with the 7,575 housing units would be reducing the 147 to below 120 a year. Mayor Bergeson noted that staff has talked about establishing criteria and someone else may say they have a worthwhile project that promotes the community and other things but since it is not specifically laid out, it would require a Comprehensive Plan amendment and he thinks it would also require a review of the 7,575 housing units. So, if there is a big project that has equal merits to this, there are still a lot of things that would have to happen before it can be approved. In addition, there is no right on the part of the developer to have the City amend the Comprehensive Plan and change goal numbers. The Council would have to feel it was in the best interest of the City to change the Comprehensive Plan. So even if it is theoretically possible, the developer does not have the right to demand multiple Comprehensive Plan amendments to accommodate a project. Councilmember Reinert stated the best approach is to get more specific language from the City Attorney, discuss it at length at the next work session, and try to include the right words to make "The Village" unique enough so the City is not faced with someone else wanting to duplicate the same scenario of a project. Councilmember Reinert moved to approve FIRST READING of Ordinance No. 01-03, Ordinance Creating a Growth Management Policy. Councilmember Dahl seconded the motion. Councilmember Carlson stated she will vote against the motion tonight but may vote in support of it in two weeks. She stated she wants to know that it is legal and that exceeding the 7,575 housing units does not place the City in an indefensible position She stated this is a unique project; however, there are other areas in the City where mixed use and high density are being considered and there is a 362.5 acre site on the east side where a developer is working on a proposal that was presented at a past work session. Councilmember Carlson stated the City has to be very careful and until she sees language saying it is legal and can be defended, she is uncomfortable with voting yes this evening. 17