PUBLIC HEARING: Review Zoning Ordinance Amendments Related to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and General Updates

As we preliminarily introduced to the Planning Commission at the April meeting and at City Council work sessions on May 22nd and July 24th, Staff has completed updates to the Zoning Code necessary to implement the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, as well as certain other previously discussed amendments. These updates and additions are based on past site plan reviews and comments and/or conditions placed on applications. Many of these proposed changes are simply a restructuring and consolidation of existing ordinances. Other changes result in the need for new districts to implement the Comprehensive Plan. Some of the structure used to create a new district has been expanded to the other use districts to maintain consistency. Finally, Staff has attempted to clarify policies related to approving current conditional uses. The Planning Commission has the ability to recommend that some of these conditional uses can now become permitted uses based on the standards suggested.

The Public Hearing was properly notified in the Anoka County Union.

Several ordinance sections are affected by this update as listed below: Draft Ordinance Amendments include the following:

Sec. 117-111 Residential Use Districts

Sec. 117-122. Public/Quasi-Public District

Sec. 117-116a. Special Requirements and Performance Standards in All Employment and Office Park Districts.

Sec. 117-116 and Sec. 117.117. E-2 Employment District and E-1 Employment District

Sec. 117-144a. Special Requirements and Performance Standards for B-1, B-2 and B-3 Zoning Districts.

Sec. 117-355 Residential Development Off-Street Parking

Sec. 117-356 Commercial and Industrial Development Off-street Parking.

Draft Consolidated Landscaping Section

An executive summary has been provided that summarizes each of the following proposed amendments. Previous comments and suggestions made by the Planning Commission and City Council have been included in these final drafts. Please note that for sections highlighted in yellow, Staff is looking for additional policy feedback from the Planning Commission.

Preparation of the Zoning Code amendments is part of the consulting planning budget.

Staff recommends approval of the proposed Zoning Ordinance Sections as presented.

Motion to recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution granting approval of the amended Sections of the Zoning Code.