PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Amendments to Chapter 117, Section 111 and 112 to Modify the R-1 Residential and R-2 Residential Zoning Districts 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.

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.

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 allowed in the R-1 MUSA District, now proposed to be called 'MUSA (Single Family Detached Home).'

Staff has proposed to remove two zoning districts, Central Rural Reserve Area and Rural Preserve, since they no longer exist in the City. Staff has removed this 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.

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.

Staff recommends the City Council introduce Ordinance #19-02 modifying Sections 111 and 112 to allow 50 and 65 foot wide lots.

Motion to recommend the City Council introduce Ordinance #19-02.