07/08/2015 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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being kept on site. The Planning & Zoning Board held a public hearing on February 11, 2015. Both staff and the Planning & Zoning Board recommended denial due to concerns of spot zoning. On March 9, 2015, the City Council passed Resolution No. 15-21 denying the rezoning. Staff was directed by the Planning & Zoning Board and Council to research an ordinance amendment that would allow for the keeping of farm animals in residential zoning districts. The zoning ordinance currently allows for the keeping of farm animals on rural properties zoned R, Rural or R-X, Rural Executive. Residentially zoned parcels (i.e. R-1, R-2, etc.) do not allow for the keeping of farm animals. Lot size is not a factor in either case. Ordinance Amendment Staff discussed amending the ordinance to allow for the keeping of farm animals on residential parcels based on lot size. Our concerns are determining the ideal lot size. Rural districts require a minimum of 2 acres per 1 animal unit (e.g. 1 horse is 1 animal unit). If we changed the ordinance to 2 acre minimums, inevitably, a property owner on a 1.75 acre parcel would want a variance. The city also has varying lot sizes for both rural and residentially zoned parcels. Several rural properties are less than the minimum 10 acre requirement and several residential properties are greater than 0.25 acre. Staff acknowledges discrepancies between the zoning map and ordinance and the existence of substandard lots. Lot size alone can also be somewhat problematic considering an R-1 zoned parcel could be greater than 1 acre but a large portion of the property contains wetland or an easement that would not be considered buildable. For example, several parcels along Sioux Lane in the Spirit Hills development are greater than 1 acre but 75% is unbuildable wetland. Staff would not expect farm animals in this area. Rezoning To avoid issues regarding lot sizes, buildable area and potential variance requests and to allow the Stanek's to keep their horses, goats and other farm animals, staff recommends rezoning 15 parcels along Lake Drive from R-1, Single Family to R, Rural and 2 parcels from R-IX, Single Family Executive to R, Rural. The keeping of farm animals is a land use and should be regulated through zoning districts vs. lot size requirements. Fourteen (14) residential parcels along Lake Drive vary in lot sizes from approximately 1 to 5 acres and lot widths from 100 feet to 300 feet. They are unsewered parcels on private well and septic systems and most have single family homes. Although these lots meet R-1 lot size and width requirements, they are considered substandard lots because they are not connected to public water and sanitary utilities. These parcels would still be considered substandard if rezoned to R, Rural because they would not meet the 10 acre lot size requirement; however, they would be consistent with other smaller rural properties that are on private systems. The rural zoning district establishes a "holding W