PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Preliminary Plat and Variance Request for Rum River Prairie (Project #17-149); Case of Eric Thomsen

The purpose of this case is to review the Preliminary Plat for a proposed twenty-five (25) lot, detached single family resdiential subdivision located at the intersection of Armstrong Blvd and Tiger Street (PIDs 07-32-25-14-0001 and 07-32-25-13-0001, together, the "Subject Property").  The Subject Property is zoned R-1 Residential (Rural Developing) and the subject lots would be serviced by private well and septic services.

Staff attempted to notify all Property Owners within 700 feet of the Subject Property of the Sketch Plan Review.

The Applicant is requesting Preliminary Plat approval of Rum River Prairie. Properties surrounding all sides of the Subject Property are currently zoned R-1 Residential (Rural Developing) and guided as Rural Developing. The proposed lots would be serviced by individual private utilities (well and septic).  The lots being proposed range in size from 1.37 acres to 3.7 acres in size with all but one of the lots being 2.5 acres or greater in size.
 
A variance to the lot area requirement is being sought for one lot. The proposed lot requiring a variance is similar in size and nature to surrounding parcels in that the proposed property is 1.37 acres and the surrounding properties are 1.03 acres, 1.37 acres, and 0.91 acres in size.  The proposed lot appears to be consistent with the adjacent neighborhood.  This matter was discussed with the Planning Commission as part of the Sketch Plan review and at that time, there seemed to be general consensus to support a variance because this land was already separated from the rest of the Subject Property by Tiger Street and Armstrong Blvd.

The Applicant did amend the configuration of the proposed cul-de-sac north of Armstrong Blvd.  This resulted in all of the lots meeting the current required lot width standard of 200 feet.  There are no other deviations from City Code.

The proposed subdivision has been forwarded to the Anoka County Highway Department for review.  No comments have been received on it to date.

Alternatives

Alternative 1:  Adopt Resolution #18-022 approving the requested variance to lot size and recommend adoption of Resolution #18-023 approving the preliminary plat of Rum River Prairie. Staff believes that the proposed development is reasonable and compatible with the character of the surrounding development. Staff supports Alternative 1.

Alternative 2:  Do not approve Resolution #18-022 and thereby deny the request for a variance to lot size.  Recommend denial of Resolution #18-023 regarding the preliminary plat of Rum River Prairie and direct the Applicant to revise the proposal to remove the variance request. Staff does not support Alternative 2.
 

All costs associated with processing the Application are the responsibility of the Developer.

Staff recommends approval of Resolution #18-022 granting a Variance to lot size and approval of Resolution #18-023 granting Preliminary Plat approval of Rum River Prairie.

Motion to adopt Resolution #18-022 approving a Variance to lot size and to recommend adoption of Resolution #18-023 approving the Preliminary Plat approval of Rum River Prairie.