HomeMy WebLinkAbout#10 - Afton Comp Plan - 2020
STAFF REPORT
DATE: 02-18-2020
CONSENT
TO: City Council
FROM: Ken Roberts, Planning Director
AGENDA ITEM: City of Afton - Comprehensive Plan Update - Adjacent
Jurisdictional Review Comments
REVIEWED BY: Jack Griffin, City Engineer
BACKGROUND:
The City of Afton has completed a draft of their 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update and has
submitted for adjacent jurisdictional review. The review period ends April 5, 2020. Staff has
prepared draft comments for the review by the City Council.
ISSUE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL:
The City Council is being asked to review and approve staff comments about the draft Afton
2040 Comprehensive Plan Update.
PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS:
Below provides a summary and analysis of Afton 2040 Comprehensive Plan update and how
it affects Lake Elmo:
Preamble and Background Information: Afton is about 25 square miles in size but is
sparsely populated. It located generally south of I-94 and east of Manning Avenue (Highway
95) in southern Washington County. The Comprehensive Plan states that the philosophy and
vision for their city is to remain rural as they believe their unique status a rural sanctuary is
worth preserving. They summarize the purpose of the Afton Comprehensive Plan as follows:
“to perpetuate Afton’s natural, rural character and to identify and capture those things that
make Afton a unique and special place and to protect them for current and future residents.”
Land Use, Population and Housing. The City is expecting its population to grow slowly
through the year 2040 – from a population of 3068 in 2020 to 3138 in 2040. They also are
expecting the number of households to grow from 1201 in 2020 to 1301 in 2040. Most of the
expected and future land use in Afton is shown to be rural residential and agricultural. There
is a 70-acre area of industrial land use along the south side of I-94 lying east of Manning
Avenue and their Old Village is planned for a mix of land uses.
It is indicated that the rural residential and agricultural areas do not have nor do they require
urban services such as municipal sewer and water. Some future commercial or mixed use
development might occur on the southeast corner of the intersection of I-94 and Highway 95
(Manning Avenue). If that development occurs, it would provide a location for jobs, but the
City plans to remain mostly rural residential and agricultural.
Transportation. The City indicates that the existing principle and arterials are sufficient to
handle existing and future development and they will work with the State of Minnesota and
Washington County to assure that minor arterials are protected and upgraded as needed to
handle additional traffic. This includes I-94 along their northern border and Highway 95
(Manning Avenue) along their western border.
Sanitary Sewer/Water/Storm Water Drainage. Jack Griffin, Lake Elmo City Engineer,
did not have any engineering-related comments about the proposed Afton Comprehensive
Plan. He noted there is no sanitary sewer or water in Afton contiguous to Lake Elmo and the
drainage generally flows away from Lake Elmo to the east toward the Saint Croix River.
Parks and Open Space. The City will not be seeking out additional land for public use but
relies on the existing City parks and Afton State Park along with the large rural residential
lots and agricultural areas to maintain its rural character and open spaces.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends, as part of tonight’s consent agenda, that the City make no comment
regarding Draft 2040 Afton Comprehensive Plan. If the City Council chooses to remove this
item from the consent agenda, the recommended motion is as follows:
“Move to make no comment about the Draft 2040 Afton Comprehensive Plan.”
ATTACHMENT:
The Draft 2040 Afton Comprehensive Plan can be found by doing a right-click on the
following:
Click Here