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Committee of the Whole Meeting of February 24, 1994 'Business Item: A-4 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL Mears Park Centre, 230 East Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 612 291-6359 TDD 612 291-0904 DATE: February 16, 1994 TO: Metropolitan Council Committee of the Whole FROM: Comprehensive Planning (Richard Thompson, 291-6457) SUBJECT: Consent List Item City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Amendment Change in Land Use Designations-464 Acres Metropolitan Council Referral File No. 15407-6 Metropolitan Council District No. 12 INTRODUCTION This plan amendment proposes to change the land use designations on five scattered parcels of land within the city of Lake Elmo. The plan amendment would increase the density from one unit per ten acres to six units per 20 acres with a 2.5 acre minimum lot size on four parcels. The density on the fifth parcel would decrease from one per five acre to one per ten acre density. The overall net effect of the plan amendment would be to increase the number of potential dwelling units by 81. ISSUES The city of Lake Elmo is an exception to the Council's rural policy. As such, the city has addressed and complied with Criteria 1-11 in Appendix Three of the Metropolitan Development and Investment Framework policies for the rural service area. The city has in place stringent development standards regarding the installation, management and inspection of on -site sanitary sewer systems, regulations regarding the control and management of surface water runoff, and the protection of wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas such as steep slopes, heavily forested areas and major water bodies. The city of Lake Elmo actively supports long-term agricultural practices in the community. The agricultural preserves program is supported by the city. Several major tracts of land in the city are part of the agricultural preserves program. Approximately 250 acres located immediately south of the western -most property are enrolled in the agricultural preserves program. The city of Lake Elmo has considerable area committed to local and regional recreational open space land uses. Currently, over 25 percent of the city's land area is committed to park and recreation purposes. Over 2,200 acres in the city are committed to the Washington County park system. The 3M Tartan park is also located in the city.