11/22/2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• COUNCIL MINUTES November 22, 2004 APPROVED 192 Councilmember Carlson read from a letter submitted by resident Art Hawkins, a conservationist who 1p93 had put part of his farm into a Land Trust so it could be conserved, and who expressed support for the 194 idea of Conservation Development, as he felt it was a tool to preserve open space and rural character. 195 However, Mr. Hawkins stated that allowing annual growth above and beyond the 147 units per year 196 was inconsistent with Conservation Development planning. He was concerned that it was a way of 197 getting around the Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Carlson concurred with his views, and 198 expressed concern that the city should not bear the cost of infrastructure or additional homes without 199 help from Metropolitan Council funding and state funding. She felt a citizens' survey should be 200 conducted. 201 202 Councilmember Reinert stated he is in favor of this ordinance and thinks it is a great addition. He 203 indicated conservation development is all over the Comprehensive Plan and the goals of the 204 Comprehensive Plan. He stated the question is how do we pursue those goals, and they have found 205 one way here. He noted they only get one shot at developing Lino Lakes to the best of their ability, 206 and in twenty years no one will care about the number 147, but will care how the city looks and 207 works. He stated he believes that they do not have to do for all what they do for one with this plan 208 because it is designed to give the Council discretion. 209 210 Councilmember Stoltz indicated he believes all of the Council members are in favor of controlled 211 growth, and feels this is another tool they can use. He stated they have many other controls in place 212 as well. He indicated this City Council is very sympathetic to wanting to preserve blue and green 213 space, and this gives the City a tool to do so. 214 Ai 15 Mayor Bergeson commented that this ordinance is not about Fox Den, and Fox Den is only an 16 example of what can be done. He stated the reality is that two or three years from now, Fox Den will 217 be full of houses, and they can be there either through the use of traditional square lots and a few 218 neighborhood developments, or with a lot of open space and a design that makes a positive statement 219 about conservation development. He indicated the current Comprehensive Plan is the first plan the 220 city has had that limits growth, and when they did not limit growth, there was not an issue of rampant 221 development. 222 223 Councilmember Dahl indicated she was on the Planning and Zoning Board during the Comprehensive 224 Plan planning process. She stated she was for the slow growth of 70 homes a year, but compromised 225 and went to 147 homes per year. She indicated a concern they had then, which she holds now, is the 226 affect that increased growth would have on the schools. She stated this is an excellent plan, and 227 thanked Staff for taking the initiative, but believes there needs to be a phasing plan. 228 229 Community Development Director Grochala clarified that the ordinance as proposed does not change 230 the amount of land guided for development and does not change the MUSA. He indicated the Stage 1 231 and Stage 2 growth areas also stay the same. He added that any developments that came forward 232 would require a Comprehensive Plan Amendment for MUSA allocation. 233 234 City Attorney Hawkins opined that the City is offering developers the opportunity to come into this 235 program, but developers do not have to participate. He stated that because the developers choose to 236 come under this program the City is able to set the rules. He indicated he does not think you will ever 237 find two pieces of property that are exactly the same; therefore there should not be an issue of gm38 favoring one developer over another. He stated the language in the ordinance gives the City Council 39 a great deal of flexibility. 5