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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/09/2003 EDAC Minutes 1 APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: Thursday, January 9, 2003 MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Juni, T. Vacha, K. Hansmann, D.Gorowsky, J. Milbauer, F. Chase, J. Schwartz MEMBERS ABSENT: B. Hicks, R. Jensen OTHERS PRESENT: M. Divine, D. Carlson, J. Smyser, M. Grochala GENERAL/MINUTES Minutes of December 5, 2002 were approved. 2003 APPOINTMENTS Ms. Divine stated that three members were up for appointment. Mr. Jensen is reapplying, Mr. Hicks is not. Ms. Divine will check with Ms. Schwartz to see if she is reapplying. DRAFT ZONING ORDINANCE Ms. Divine explained that for the past year a task force has been revising the city's subdivision ordinances and zoning ordinances, and establishing a growth management ordinance. The city council has asked that all boards review the drafts. EDAC will look specifically at commercial/industrial (C/I). Mr. Smyser noted the schedule for completion of all ordinances. The housing moratorium is scheduled to end February 22. Mr. Smyser reviewed major changes in the draft zoning ordinance that pertain to C/I. The draft of the Site Plan Review section would allow staff to review plans that meet the ordinances, and approve administratively, instead of going through P&Z and City Council for approval. If staff does not approve a project because it does not meet the city's ordinance, an applicant has the right to appeal. It would then go to the P&Z and Council, the same as if the applicant were asking for a variance. This can save up to 90 days for many approvals. 2 Mr. Smyser stated a rezone or a conditional use permit requires a public hearing, and would go through the P&Z and city council. The draft ordinance has also expanded and has clarified what must be submitted for a site plan review. Ms. Hansmann commented that information requirements for rezoning should be made clearer. Ms. Carlson noted that the P&Z and Council are the places residents come if they are going to be affected by a new use. They won't have a forum to voice their concerns with this new process. Mr. Vacha moved to support the draft site plan review and recommend to the city council it be approved as is. Mr. Gorowsky seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Members pointed out other concerns in the ordinances, mainly language clarifications. Mr. Smyser requested members note these problems and submit to him. Mr. Grochala stated that any ordinance of this size will require clarifications and changes over time. Mr. Smyser reviewed the commercial zoning districts. Central Business District and Shopping Center zones have been eliminated. In all commercial districts, permitted uses have been more generalized rather than trying to list every specific allowable use. In all commercial districts, gas stations are a conditional use with more specific architectural and design standards. Ms. Hansmann questioned the requirement of recessed canopy lights and the restriction of canopy fascia lighting. Mr. Smyser stated all lighting restrictions were intentional, he may consider whether fascia lighting should be allowed in GB. Other changes in the ordinance: drive through facilities will now be allowed automatically in the GB as an accessory use. Outdoor dining has been addressed. The CBD will become GB. Mr. Smyser noted the language that allows commercial uses in industrial districts has been eliminated. Offices, office/warehouse, contractor sales will be allowed in LI. Members discussed the need to address showrooms, such as Wickes or Hom, as an allowable use. The new ordinance allows mini-storage as a conditional use in LI. After discussion, Ms. Schwartz moved to remove mini-storage as a conditional use in LI. Mr. Gorowsky seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. It will be allowed as a conditional use in GI, but the city does not currently have vacant available GI. Mr.. Smyser stated the Growth Management Ordinance outlines the average of 147 new housing units per year, the Stage 1 and 2 growth areas, and a specified number of MUSA reserve acres. The policy lists how much MUSA and how many homes can be built per year. Units will be tracked. More than 50 units must have a phasing plan. Land within existing MUSA gets priority over expanding the MUSA. 3 Mr. Chase questioned how property owners get in line to develop. Mr. Grochala stated this housing cap starts a line, but how far out can the line go? It's a deterrent to submit a plan as a means of getting in line because the ordinance states a plat needs to start developing within a year. Some of these applications will shake out because they will be determined to be premature subdivisions. The greatest struggle will be when someone comes in with a plat that is in MUSA and adjacent to utilities. Mr. Smyser stated the best the city can do is put together a fair, reasonable ordinance, then see what happens, because this is untested. It may have to be modified over time. Mr. Grochala noted there is land all over the city in Stage 1. Other cities manage growth by outlining one area of the city for its next growth stage. Landowners there know whether they can develop or not. In Lino Lakes landowners may be in Stage 1, but still not know whether they can develop. Mr. Chase noted the ordinance exempts the Village from the growth cap. EDAC has supported this in the past and the Village needs to remain an independent project. Mr. Milbauer moved to recommend to the council that the exemption of the Village remain in the ordinance. Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Divine stated EDAC should plan on a February 6 meeting. Meeting adjourned, 8:55 a.m.