Laserfiche WebLink
Staff Report <br />DATE: 2/4/26 <br />Consent Agenda <br />AGENDA ITEM: Planning Commission 2026 Work Plan <br />SUBMITTED BY: Sophia Jensen, Senior City Planner <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Per Section 3.12.280 of the Lake Elmo City Code, the Planning Commission is tasked with reviewing <br />and recommending an annual work plan. Staff built off the 2025 work plan to establish the 2026 <br />Planning Commission Work Plan. <br />The Planning Commission reviewed and recommended approval of the proposed plan at their <br />12/8/2025 meeting as presented by staff (Vote 4-0). <br />The City Council had a joint workshop with the Planning Commission on 1/13/2026 to review the <br />workplan and discuss the goals for the Commission. At the meeting no changes were proposed to the <br />plan. <br />ISSUE BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL: <br />The City Council is being asked to make a decision on the proposed Planning Commission Work Plan <br />for 2026. <br />DETAILS AND ANALYSIS: <br />The work plan follows a similar ranking system to the Parks Commission work plan with a priority <br />system of 1-5 (1 being the highest priority). <br />Items that have been completed in the 2025 work plan include the following: <br />1.Housekeeping amendments identified in 2024 were completed in February. <br />2. Cannabis regulations were approved, and no formal applications have been received in 2025. <br />3. Old Village review update was provided in November. Updates will be incorporated into the <br />2050 Comprehensive Plan <br />4. A City Council Workshop for short term rentals was held in November and Planning <br />Commission Discussion held in December <br />5.CIP was reviewed in November. <br />6. Planning Commission training was held in March. <br />7. Public Hearing methods and mailings: <br />a.Staff updated the mailer language to include additional information <br />b. City Attorney Consulted on mailing distances <br />c.City Council Workshop held 12/8/2025 <br />8.Promoting Sustainability: <br />a.The city received Steps 4 and 5 of the GreenSteps Program and 2 gold leaf recognition <br />items for 2025. <br />b. Not on the work plan for 2025 but the City also started a tree fund in 2025. <br />9. The city has an interactive GIS tool on the website for residents and developers. This was <br />presented to the Commission in October.