Adopt Ordinance #19-02 Amending the R-1 and R-2 Sections of Chapter 117 of City Code to Allow 50- and 65-Foot Wide Lots and Clarifying Existing Language

The purpose of this case is to review a proposed zoning amendment (text) to allow 50- and 65-foot wide lots. The case came forward as part of the Harvest Estates 2nd Addition Preliminary Plat application, but is being handled and treated as a separate case. The proposed zoning amendment (text) modifies both R-1 and R-2 regulations, while consolidating and making the R-2 section easier to read and utilize. These changes have been requested by a number of Developers over the past several years.

The Public Hearing was published in the City's official newsletter, the Anoka County Union Herald. The Planning Commission met and held a public hearing on February 7, 2019. The City Council introduced the proposed ordinance on February 26, 2019.

Ordinance Amendment
Please see the attached ordinance amendment, which creates a new zoning district for small lot detached villas in the R-1 District and clarifies regulations in the R-2 district. Staff believes that these zoning districts make the code more user-friendly, and also reflect informal requests that the City has received from developers who state 65-foot wide lots are becoming more popular. These zoning district changes provide an additional tool for developers and staff to utilize throughout the City; the City at this time is not proactively rezoning any parcels except that associated with the Harvest Estates application.

Staff will continue to update the City's Zoning Code throughout 2019 to make it more user-friendly, efficient, and appropriate for our City.

R-1 Changes
The proposed ordinance amendment adds a new R-1 A (Detached Villa) MUSA District. This proposed district allows for 65 foot wide lots with slightly smaller setbacks than R-1 MUSA, including a 5 foot side yard setback (rather than 6 feet) and a 20 foot rear yard setback (rather than 30 feet). The minimum lot size for this district is .15 acres, compared to the .25 acres currently allowed in the R-1 MUSA district. This district is proposed to remain, and areas zoned R-1 MUSA will remain - with 80 foot wide lots requirements.

Staff has proposed to remove reference to two zoning districts, Central Rural Reserve Area and Rural Preserve, since they no longer exist in the City. Staff has removed references to these districts throughout the chapter, and has also updated the section to state '2040 MUSA' instead of 2020 MUSA. 

R-2 Changes
Staff has attempted to clean up the R-2 regulations, by consolidating four existing sections into two new sections - Detached Villa and Multifamily or Townhome (Attached). The two sections retain many of the same requirements, including allowable densities of 4-7 units per acre, 35% lot coverage requirements, and similar setbacks. Staff has removed the Duplex and Twinhome or Quad sections of the code, and merged them with the multifamily section. Staff feels this is more appropriate and user-friendly.

Staff has included both a proposed zoning amendment (text) and tracked changes of the proposed updates.

Rezoning
Staff is not proposing to rezone any properties in the City besides that of Harvest Estates 2nd Addition. Nothing will change for other landowners. This provides City Staff an additional tool that could be utilized during subdivision requests and will be utilized with several pending projects as well as an outcome of the Comprehensive Plan Update.

The zoning text amendment is part of the application for Harvest Estates 2nd Addition and all costs associated with review are the responsibility of the Applicant.

The Planning Commission recommends adoption of Ordinance #19-02.

Motion to waive the Charter requirement to read the ordinance aloud and adopt Ordinance #19-02 amending the R-1 and R-2 Sections of Chapter 117.

Roll Call Vote

Councilmember Musgrove
Councilmember Kuzma
Councilmember Shryock
Councilmember Riley
Councilmember Heinrich
Mayor LeTourneau