Review Comprehensive Plan Amendment for The COR

In August, 2011, the City Council approved a Comprehensive Plan Amendment for adjacent jurisdiction review. The Amendment included officially implementing Development Plan 5.03 for The COR. Over the next several months following the approval for adjacent review, Staff continued to review household and employment forecasts prior to officially sending for adjacent review and then pre-meeting with Metropolitan Council Staff and Staff from said adjacent jurisdictions. There was no known opposition during the official comment period, which was extended an additional two (2) weeks to allow the remaining two (2) jurisdictions time to submit comments.

Upon completion of the comment period, Staff officially submitted the request to the Metropolitan Council. At that time, Metropolitan Council Staff requested additional information in regard to the potential reduction in housing units based on the new Development Plan. City Staff met with Metropolitan Council Staff on Monday, April 23rd. Metropolitan Council Staff noted that the proposed plan and reduction in housing units would be acceptable in terms of overall forecasts and future land use plan; however, noted there may be some concern of their policy makers in terms of the relation to the funding recommendations of the TOD Grant. Metropolitan Council Staff wants to ensure that the potential reduction in housing numbers through 2030 is consistent with their funding recommendations under the Livable Communities Program.

No notification required.

As part of the Amendment process, a contract was approved with Landform Professional Services to conduct a population forecast and traffic analysis as part of the Sunwood Realignment Feasibility Study. Based on that analysis, a conservative forecast of 1,500 households was used. The analysis identified potential issues with capacity. Although various documents differ in the actual number, it appears that the Metropolitan Council will likely use 2,500 households noted in the original Master Plan Document as a starting point for discussion. In addition, it can be assumed that additional growth in The COR above the 1,500 households could be experienced beyond the current planning period (through 2030), with an ultimate growth of something closer to the originally forecasted 2,500.

Staff believes that it is extremely important to note that the Development Plan and Development Framework provide for and encourage a much higher number of households than what was included in the traffic analysis through 2030. In the discussions with the Metropolitan Council Staff, it appears that they believe that the 'Mixed-Use' land use designation and associated Development Plan can be accomplished without a change in household forecast.

Staff would like to discuss with the HRA two (2) potential policy directives:

1. Review forecast methodology in the center of the project to account for additional vertical density
2. Review site layout of Development Plan 5.03 for potential future 'in-fill' development in the retail portion of the project

The Development Manager will be available to discuss current efforts on a revised Development Plan and how this discussion can be incorporated. Staff would also like to discuss strategies of the current Amendment and current TOD Grant recommendations.

Based on discussion.

Preparation of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment is being handled as part of regular Staff duties. Discussions with the Metropolitan Council are also being assisted as part of the Development Management Services contract with Landform Professional Services.

Comment on potential direction in regard to the Comprehensive Plan Amendment specific to Development Plan 5.03. Specifically, Staff is looking for direction on potential amendments to Development Plan 5.03 in land use/site layout as well as forecasting additional units in the center (COR-1/downtown) portion of the project. If additional units above 1,500 forecasted, Staff will need to analyze potential impacts to the traffic analysis as well.