Council Memo - 4.22.2024Update on Comprehensive Plan Implementation
Meeting Date: April 22, 2024
Marie Darling, Planning Director
Now that the 2040 Comprehensive Plan has been adopted, the City needs to begin to update the
zoning ordinance to implement the Comprehensive Plan, including the land use plan. The order of
the amendments were arranged to begin with district to implement the highest density land use
classifications first, then medium density, and finally working toward the lower density land use
classifications later in the year.
The 2040 Plan adopted a new high density residential land use classification and applied it to five
parcels, two of which are zoned PUD and three are zoned with commercial districts. Staff and the
Planning Commission have begun to redesign the R-38 zoning district to implement this land use
classification for the properties currently zoned with a commercial district.
The new R-3B zoning district would be intended to produce eight to 30 units per acre. The principal
• use for this zoning district would be a newly -defined "Multiple family dwelling" which would be
used to replace the previous "Apartment' definition. The new definition is currently drafted to be:
DWELLING - MULTIPLE -FAMILY. A building designed with three or more dwelling units
exclusively for occupancy by three or more families living independently of each other. Each
dwelling unit is equipped with cooking and sanitation facilities; is accessed by shared hallways
or entrances and exits; and may be configured vertically with other dwelling units above or
below.
Other potential changes include:
• Drafting the regulations to allow up to 24 units per acre, with up to 30 units per acre if the
development includes the remaining units as affordable housing or sustainable building
practices (such as Leed Silver or above).
• Allowing lesser side setbacks (15 feet) with shorter buildings (30 feet in height) and greater
setbacks (30 feet) with taller buildings (over 30 feet). The maximum height is capped at 40
feet (same as current height).
Other related code sections would be amended:
1201.02 subd g (required screening and landscaping)- Correct language for income producing
properties.
• 1201.03 Subd 5 h (parking) correct type
1201.03 Subd. 20 (elderly housing ) correct references from apartment to multiple -family dwelling
1201.25 Subd. 4 (PUD) correct references from apartments, condominiums, cooperatives to
multiple -family dwellings.
Financial Considera
The amendments a
publishing the legal
Next Steps
The Planning Comm
amendments at one
and will likely hold a
the amendments an
need to be amender
guided high -density
district.
being drafted in-house. Costs associated with this amendment include
)tices and publishing the ordinance amendments.
;sion will informally review the
nore public meeting (May 7)
3ublic hearing in June. After
adopted, the zoning map will
to rezone the three properties
esidential to the R-36 zoning
The three parcels ind de:
o 23445 Smitht wn Road
o 23425 Smitht wn Road
o 23400 Smitht wn Road
No action is
at this time.
•