Zoning Code Update: Mixed Use/COR

The current Zoning Code has two mixed-use zoning districts: MU-PUD and COR.  

MU-PUD
The Mixed-Use Planned Unit Development (MU-PUD) is only used south of Highway 10 east of Ramsey Boulevard.  The residential component consists of Suite Living senior housing and various phases of Rivenwick Townhomes, including the approved 4th Addition (construction expected in spring 2023).  The businesses include Slumberland and some office condos.  There is one vacant business lot remaining.  Based on the Zoning Code work to date, the residential uses could be covered by the R2 (medium density residential) district and the business uses could be zoned B2 (community business) or B3 (regional business).  Staff is proposing to eliminate the MU-PUD district as it does not provide any additional regulations that are not covered by other districts. 

COR
The other mixed-use district is COR.  This is a large area north of Highway 10 between Ramsey Boulevard and west of Ferret Street, extending north of Bunker Lake Boulevard.  The COR is broken down into several subdistricts.  A detailed plan document referred to as The COR Framework outlines the development guidelines for this area.  Staff is not proposing to change the COR Framework, though it may be a good idea to update it in the future.  There is also a section in the current Zoning Code that addresses uses and performance standards for the various subdistricts.  Staff is proposing to update the COR section of the Zoning Code.  

The table within COR allows for individual or mixed uses within a building.  One of the goals of the Zoning Code update is to be consistent in terminology and structure.  Staff has updated the table by modifying the terms used for the uses that are the same as those in the business and residential districts.  In doing so, it was noted that some of the uses were further broken down to their sizes, even though there are very minor differences, if any.  Some uses are not permitted anywhere, such as warehousing.  The accessory uses are proposed to be in a separate table. 

Staff would like to ask the Commission about other uses to be included in the COR, like Commercial Indoor Recreation since movie theaters are currently allowed.  Would recreational/entertainment uses such as bowling, an escape room, a video arcade, or gymnastic center be acceptable uses?  

Some other uses are contradictory to other parts of the COR and to other sections of Code such as home occupations and accessory dwelling units and are proposed to be removed.  

COR currently lists several performance standards as footnotes to the use table.  Staff would like to get feedback from the Commission on the existing performance standards to see if any modifications should be made.  One section in particular, gas operations in wellhead protection areas, will be placed in its own section and be applicable city-wide as the wellhead protection area covers property outside of the COR.  The performance standards for patio seating standards and drive-thrus could be made applicable to other business districts. 

Restaurants in COR-1 are called out as needing to have a building height of at-least 22 feet if they are one story.  Since COR-1 is the most intense district, should all buildings be at least that height?   

COR-3a was created specifically for PACT Charter School and COR-5 is only for the parks and greenspaces within COR.  Should these subdistricts be eliminated and those properties absorbed into the proposed Public/Institutional and Parks and Open Space districts, respectively?  Those two districts will be discussed at a future meeting.  This would eliminate redundancies.  

COR does not really have any landscaping standards other than streetscape requirements listed in the Framework.  Should the same business standards apply?  

 

None required at this time.

This work is being done as a part of staff's normal duties.

Please provide imput of the proposed changes and any changes the Commission would like to add.