Sunday, November 25, 2018
Agenda
Not posted
What was on the agenda.
Packet
Not posted
The supporting materials council reviewed.
One-line summary
The City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission held a joint meeting to discuss the 2040 Comprehensive Land Use Plan (including annexation/settlement impacts, commercial/industrial areas, frontage roads, and parks/trails) and took public comments before adjourning.
11 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.
A1Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance / Roll Call
A2Approve/Amend tonight's meeting agenda (September 25, 2018) (including moving public comments)
Agenda amended so public comments were at the end of the meeting.
A3Approve/Amend August 27, 2018 Planning & Zoning Meeting Minutes
A42040 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Discussion
Discussion included detachment/annexation settlement terms, commercial/industrial expansion, frontage road plan, park & trail amendments, and community perspectives.
The Council and Planning & Zoning Commission discussed the required 10-year update to the Comprehensive Plan and the schedule for submissions and review, noting the plan had been put on hold due to an annexation request and that an extension was approved through December 2019. They discussed a timeline that included submitting the Comp Plan to the Met Council by July 31, 2019, a mandatory six-month review by neighboring communities, and Met Council approval by August 21, 2020 with zoning changes following.
A4aDetachment/Annexation Area Settlement Agreement (2 acre minimum lot size and average 2 acre lot size)
The Council and Planning & Zoning Commission discussed the required 10-year update to the Comprehensive Plan and the schedule for submissions and review, noting the plan had been put on hold due to an annexation request and that an extension was approved through December 2019. They discussed a timeline that included submitting the Comp Plan to the Met Council by July 31, 2019, a mandatory six-month review by neighboring communities, and Met Council approval by August 21, 2020 with zoning changes following.
The joint body discussed the settlement agreement terms for the detachment/annexation area, including a 2-acre minimum and average 2-acre lot size, and reviewed the annexation area breakdown (commercial and residential acreages). During public comment, residents urged broader application of 2-acre zoning (potentially citywide) and described how changing density could affect land value and development opportunities; the planner noted there are multiple options to extend 2-acre lot zoning to other areas.
A4bCommercial / Industrial District Expansion Areas or Changes
A4cFrontage Road Plan
Participants discussed whether to keep or eliminate the frontage road plan, with a councilmember recommending removal and suggesting the county handle it, arguing it has driven developers away. A public commenter agreed and stated the frontage road plan had deterred prospective residential or commercial developers when raised.
A4dPark & Trail Amendments
The group discussed park and trail amendments, including reshaping a park search area in the northwest corner and noting a regional trail route through Nowthen. In discussion, a councilmember expressed concern about too many miles of trail to maintain and urged focusing on manageable plans, while another member noted that trails need to be shown on the map to be eligible for future grant opportunities; a public commenter questioned pursuing grants for trails the city could not afford to build or maintain.
A4eCommunity Perspectives
Council/P&Z discussed getting resident feedback and specific policy preferences; members discussed frontage roads and trails.
Participants discussed whether to keep or eliminate the frontage road plan, with a councilmember recommending removal and suggesting the county handle it, arguing it has driven developers away. A public commenter agreed and stated the frontage road plan had deterred prospective residential or commercial developers when raised.
The group discussed park and trail amendments, including reshaping a park search area in the northwest corner and noting a regional trail route through Nowthen. In discussion, a councilmember expressed concern about too many miles of trail to maintain and urged focusing on manageable plans, while another member noted that trails need to be shown on the map to be eligible for future grant opportunities; a public commenter questioned pursuing grants for trails the city could not afford to build or maintain.
A5Floor Items / Public Comments
Public comments were taken at the end of the meeting, per the agenda amendment.
The joint body discussed the settlement agreement terms for the detachment/annexation area, including a 2-acre minimum and average 2-acre lot size, and reviewed the annexation area breakdown (commercial and residential acreages). During public comment, residents urged broader application of 2-acre zoning (potentially citywide) and described how changing density could affect land value and development opportunities; the planner noted there are multiple options to extend 2-acre lot zoning to other areas.
Participants discussed whether to keep or eliminate the frontage road plan, with a councilmember recommending removal and suggesting the county handle it, arguing it has driven developers away. A public commenter agreed and stated the frontage road plan had deterred prospective residential or commercial developers when raised.
The group discussed park and trail amendments, including reshaping a park search area in the northwest corner and noting a regional trail route through Nowthen. In discussion, a councilmember expressed concern about too many miles of trail to maintain and urged focusing on manageable plans, while another member noted that trails need to be shown on the map to be eligible for future grant opportunities; a public commenter questioned pursuing grants for trails the city could not afford to build or maintain.
A6Adjourn
Adjourned at 8:02 PM.
3 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1Approve/Amend tonight's meeting agenda of September 25, 2018.
Approve/Amend tonight's meeting agenda of September 25, 2018
moved by Pilon, seconded by Rainville
M2Approve/Amend August 27, 2018 Planning & Zoning Meeting Minutes.
Approve/Amend August 27, 2018 Planning & Zoning Meeting Minutes
moved by Alders, seconded by Ames
M3Motion to Adjourn.
Motion to Adjourn
moved by Rainville, seconded by Breyen
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
The structured brief on this page is auto-generated and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording remain the official record. What do the trust labels mean?