10/27/2008 Council Minutes (4) - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 27, 2008 APPROVED 46 In reviewing the Planning and Zoning Board minutes, it was clarified that the board did 47 not approve a change. 48 49 Staff clarified that the Plan is intended to be a guide but assumptions in the Plan aren't 50 fact. Mr. Grochala suggested that there is no way that there is going to be sewer and 51 water in the area under discussion within 20 years without some very major changes, and 52 the city should concentrate on building out its existing infrastructure before considering 53 expansion of the system. It was also clarified that, if a proposal were to come forward for 54 development, a request for a Plan amendment could be a consideration as long as the 55 development is master planned and meets other criteria is met. 56 57 The staff continued review of the Plan, focusing on the remaining schedule and on the 58 full -build plan. Mr. Grochala noted that staff has tried to cover the full -build out as the 59 first review of looking at land use and then the market forecast. They have used the 60 forecast numbers, with the 2010 number turned back from the downtown in market. 61 They used the area, sewer capacity and transportation projections. Looking at the staging 62 map, they decided what could be serviced resulting in the purple areas on the map (what 63 they are looking at in the next ten years for primary growth). 64 65 A council member noted that there are areas within the purple (small two acre lots) where 66 the sewer just won't be going in. 67 68 Community Director Grochala reviewed the housing plan and the goals it is based on. 69 Retaining current residences with attraction of new residences is a goal. Regarding 70 affordable housing, the market in the area is difficult to match but staff plans a goal to 71 offer density of eight units per acre in guided area. The map will be accompanied by a 72 housing development strategy. 73 74 A council member, looking at density, suggested that the standards of construction and 75 quality for housing in Lino Lakes won't accommodate six units per acre much less eight. 76 77 Staff explained that there is a range that the city must meet. To shrink the density, you 78 must expand the area. Also, the Metropolitan Council says that, in order to meet 79 affordable housing goals, eight units an acre are required. It represents one to two percent 80 of the 2030 land use plan (with some mixed use included). 81 When asked what would happen if the city submits a Plan that includes less than the 8 82 units per acre in high density, Consultant Ciara Schlictling of Bonestroo, explained that 83 the Metropolitan Council would send it back. 84 Staff added that both the visioning process and advisory panel did not bring forward 85 concerns about the high density areas; they wanted affordable and life cycle housing. 86 A member suggested that since there is a minimum dictated by the Plan, the city should 87 also look at establishing a maximum density within the ordinances. Ms. Schlictling 88 pointed out that there are controls already present in the city's regulations.