2003 Planning Commission Packets

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r° °� .-. ____ � ____ _ � � :� _ � � � �� _ � _ Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting August 20, 2003 Page 9 2. Amend the City Code to support and encourage life-cycle housing and upper-end condominiums. Director Ericson noted there were a multitude of options that could be employed to encourage the development of life-cycle housing and upper-end condominiums. He indicated one option recently adopted was to eliminate the CUP requirement from townhomes and other options might include density bonuses, fee reductions, local tax rebates, etc. He added another idea would be to allow detached townhomes (single-family detached dwellings with minimal setbacics on individually platted lots surrounded by common areas). 3. Amend the City Code to restrict or prohibit fast-food drive-thrus. Director Ericson stated this could be done by requiring a CUP for drive-thrus, so the Commission and Council would have an opportunity to review the concept prior to allowing the development. He added, while an outright ban was possible, he was not sure that course of action would be advisable. 4. Amend Zoning Code with regard to permitted uses. Director Ericson noted this concerned the structure of the Zoning Code and how permitted uses were identified. He provided a copy of Chapter 1113 of the Zoning Code relating to the B-2, Limited Business District, which he indicated exemplified the City's unwieldy zoning scheme. He explained uses were explicitly identified in each district and, if the use was not listed, it was not allowed. He felt, while there was some beneiit to having articulated lists of uses, the problems tended to outweigh the benefits and the difficulty magnified with each passing year as new uses and technologies entered the commercial marketplace while outdated and outmoded uses fell by the wayside. Regarding item 1, Chair Stevenson asked when the City had last involced the square footage noted by Director Ericson. Director Ericson responded the City had not had to deal with this issue, as small homes were not being presented. He noted building permits had been for larger homes. He stated the square footage could be increased, however, if it was determined such an action would encourage larger, upper-end homes. Commissioners Hegland and Johnson did not see this as a credible issue. The Commission agreed item 1 should not be amended. Regarding item 2, Commissioner Johnson indicated he thought the City had already made changes to support and encourage the type of housing it wanted. He asked what land was available for building this type of housing. Commissioner Hegland stated he thought the City's intent was to eliminate high-density building, as it had more than its share already.