Adopt Resolution #12-09-XXX Adopting Comprehensive Plan Amendment; and Introduce an Ordinance to Amend City Zoning in the Windsorwood Subdivision Related to the City-Owned Lands Project

As part of the annual City Council strategic planning process, developing an inventory of City Owned Land was identified as a priority.  The goal of this initiative was to identify, and dispose of parcels that are no longer needed for current or future City functions.  In accordance with the recently adopted Policy for the Disposition of City Owned Land, Staff has identified the property known as Windsorwood as surplus City owned land, PID 06-32-25-14-0009, referred to as the "Subject Property."  At a recent City Council Work Session, Staff was directed to move forward with the sale of the Subject Property.

In order to sell the Subject Property, the parcel must be marketable.  As it stands, the Subject Property is zoned Public/Quasi Public.  It has been proposed to change the zoning of the Subject Property to reflect the zoning of surrounding properties (R1 Residential [Rural Developing]).  In order to make the said zoning change, the City must first approve a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, then subsequently approve the appropriate Zoning Amendment. Comprehensive Plan Amendments must also be approved by the Metropolitan Council. It is anticipated that this would be processed administratively through the Metropolitan Council due to the size of the Amendment.

The purpose of this case is to consider a resolution to amend the City's Comprehensive Plan and to consider a subsequent Zoning Amendment to update the City's Official Controls.

The planning commission reviewed this case, held a public hearing and is reccomending the City Council approve the attached resolution, zoning amendment and adopt the attached findings of fact from the Thursday, September 6 Planning Commission meeting.

Property owners located within 400 feet of the Subject Property have been notified of the potential sale with two separate direct mailings (6/26/2012 & 7/17/2012) as part of the City-Owned Land Project. Staff attempted to notify property owners located within 350 feet of the Subject Property via Standard US Mail of the official public hearing.  A notice was published in a local newspaper 14 days prior to this public hearing.

The Subject Property is located on the south side of 176th Avenue and the west side of Vicuna Street in the northwest portion of Ramsey. The Subject Property is zoned public/quasi-public and is surrounded by R-1 Residential (Rural Developing) properties.  Attached to this case is a detailed profile of the Subject Property.  The said profile reviews a number of items such as: wetlands, stormwater, maintenance, owner & encumbrance report, current and potential future usage, public input, and images. In summary, the Subject Property has free and clear title, appears to be buildable, and is no longer needed for current of future City functions based on analysis and review with the City Council.

The Subject Property was brought forward to a recent City Council Work Session.  The City Council indicated they are interested in selling the Subject Property.  A number of surrounding landowners contacted Staff regarding the Subject Property.  In summary, there is an interest by surrounding property owners to purchase the Subject Property and keep it as a vacant parcel.  With said public input in mind, the City Council directed Staff to give surrounding property owners the "first right" to purchase the Subject Property.  Upon rezoning and completing the necessary appraisal of the Subject Property, Staff will begin negotiating a sale with surrounding property owners.

Because the City is the land owner, the land use application fee has been waived.  Preparing this information is considered normal work duties for planning and administrative staff.

Staff recommends the following:

1. ADOPT RESOLUTION 12-XX-XXX, APPROVING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE A LAND USE DESIGNATION ON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS WINDSORWOOD, PID 06-32-25-14-0009, FROM PUBLIC/QUASI PUBLIC, TO RURAL DEVELOPING, AND AUTHORIZING CITY STAFF TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

2. ADOPT RESOLUTION 12-XX-XXX, FINDINGS OF FACT #____ TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP APPROVING A ZONING AMENDMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM PUBLIC/QUASI PUBLIC TO R-1 RESIDENTIAL (RURAL DEVELOPING)

3. ADOPT ORDINANCE12-___, AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 117 WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE ZONING AND SUBDIVISIONS CHAPTER OF THE CITY CODE OF RAMSEY, MINNESOTA, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL MAP.

Motion to recommend that the City Council approve the follwing:
1. ADOPT RESOLUTION 12-XX-XXX, APPROVING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE A LAND USE DESIGNATION ON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS WINDSORWOOD, PID 06-32-25-14-0009, FROM PUBLIC/QUASI PUBLIC, TO RURAL DEVELOPING, AND AUTHORIZING CITY STAFF TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

2. ADOPT RESOLUTION 12-XX-XXX, FINDINGS OF FACT #____ TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP APPROVING A ZONING AMENDMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM PUBLIC/QUASI PUBLIC TO R-1 RESIDENTIAL (RURAL DEVELOPING)

3. ADOPT ORDINANCE12-___, AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 117 WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE ZONING AND SUBDIVISIONS CHAPTER OF THE CITY CODE OF RAMSEY, MINNESOTA, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL MAP.