PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Ordinance #20-06 Approving Zoning Amendment of Part of Subject Property from R-1 Residential (MUSA) District to R-1 Detached Villas (Project #20-104 Northfork Meadows); Case of AKM Farm, LLC (Paxmar)

The purpose of this case is to consider a requested rezoning of a 30.5 acre parcel located generally east of Puma Street and South of Alpine Drive. The Applicant is seeking to rezone a portion of the property from the R-1 Residential (MUSA) District to the R-1 Residential District (Detached Villas).  Generally speaking the eastern and southern portion of the property will remain within the R-1 Residential (MUSA) District for the purposes of developing lots which are a minimum of 80 feet wide and serve as density transitioning.  The remainder of the property would be rezoned to the R-1 Residential District (Detached Villas) for the purposes of developing lots which are a minimum of 65 feet wide.

The Planning Commission previously reviewed this case at its meeting on December 5, 2019 and recommended introduction of Ordinance 19-16 that would have rezoned the Subject Property as it is currently being requested.  Staff is bringing a revised Ordinance before the Planning Commission and City Council due to the change in the calendar year and the need to adopt the ordinance in the same calendar year as it is introduced.  For the sake of transparency City Staff have noticed this action for another public hearing; however, the requested rezoning is no different than what was considered at your December 5, 2019 meeting.

Observations

The Applicant has only requested consideration of the proposed rezoning at this time.  The Applicant has indicated a desire to wait on any preliminary plat application until after the City considers the rezoning request.  The Applicant has however submitted a sketch plan that would coincide with the requested rezoning for reference and that sketch plan has been included with this case for context.  Two sketch plans have been included with this case.  One sketch plan is the sketch plan that was submitted by the Applicant with the rezoning request and the other sketch plan is the sketch plan previously reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council. The sketch plan submitted with this rezoning request shows a reduced amount of land that would remain zoned R-1 (MUSA) and as a result is in conflict with the City's 2040 Future Land Use Map for the area.

The proposed split rezoning between R-1 (MUSA) and R-1 (Detached Villa) shown in the previously reviewed sketch plan complies with the City's Future Land Use Map as shown in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan which is currently being reviewed by the Metropolitan Council.  City Staff have coordinated a number of public workshops on this project dating back to 2017 allowing for a number of opportunities for interested members of the public to provide their input and shape the project. The City Council was supportive of an "L Shaped" rezoning, with the larger, 80-foot wide lots along the eastern and southern boundaries. The Applicant submitted a revised sketch plan that showed larger, 80-foot wide lots along only the eastern boundary. Staff is not supportive of this alternative and has written the case in favor of the L shaped rezoning as was previously discussed with the City Council, members of the public, and Planning Commission through a multi-years engagement process. Staff feels this is a reasonable compromise and provides a transition from existing lots to Capstone's Riverstone neighborhood.

The City received input from members of the public throughout this process, and in late 2019 were generally supportive of the rezoning, with the larger lots abutting existing single family homes and the smaller lots nearer to Riverstone.

Alternatives

Alternative 1 - Recommend that the City Council introduce Ordinance #20-06 Rezoning portions of the Subject Property from R-1 (MUSA) to R-1 Detached Villa as shown in the previously submitted sketch plan. The proposed rezoning is consistent with the City's Future Land Use guidance for the parcel as shown in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan is currently being reviewed by the Metropolitan Council.  Rezoning would be contingent upon final adoption of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan by the City Council.

Alternative 2 - Do not recommend that the City Council introduce Ordinance #20-06 Rezoning the Subject Property from R-1 Residential (MUSA) to R-1 Detached Villa as shown in the previously submitted sketch plan.  The proposed rezoning is consistent with the City's Future Land Use Map City's 2040 Future Land Use Map.  Staff is not supportive of Alternative 2.

All costs associated with this request are the responsibility of the Applicant.

Staff recommends introduction of Ordinance #20-06 Rezoning a portion of the Subject Property from R-1 Residential (MUSA) to R-1 Detached Villa contingent upon approval of Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, and formal adoption of the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

Motion to recommend the City Council introduce Ordinance #20-06 rezoning a portion of the Subject Property from R-1 Residential (MUSA) District to R-1 Residential (Detached Villa) as previously directed by the City Council, contingent upon approval of Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, and formal adoption of the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan.