Agenda - Council - 07/08/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

CASE ADOPT INTERIM ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUM ON THE HIGHWAY #10 CORRIDOR By: James E. Norman, City Administrator Background: As Council is aware, MnDOT has developed an Interregional Corridor (IRC) System which identifies 2,930 miles of key transportation corridors that handled one-third of the vehicle miles traveled in the State. One of those key corridors is T.H. #10 from T.H. #24 in Clear Lake to 1- 35W, which includes the City of Ramsey. Earlier this year, MnDOT released a study document entitled T.H. #10 Corridor Management Plan: T.H. #24 in Clear Lake to 1-35W. On January 18, 2002, the City Council adopted Resolution #02-01-007 endorsing MnDOT's vision and management plan for T.H. #10 and supported a freeway design from Thurston Boulevard in Anoka to the western boundary of Ramsey. Observations: On November 12, 2002, the City Council tabled action on the moratorium and suggested that the new Council take up the matter of the moratorium on Highway #10 Corridor. The new City Council contracted services with The Tinklenberg Group in January 2003, to provide consulting services that would assist in identifying tools and a strategy that could help guide staff and policymakers in effectively managing development in planning for the future. The Tinklenberg Group recommended a strategy including an environmental review that would allow the City to officially map portions of the Corridor along Highway #10. The strategy also included a strong communication and outreach effort with individual property owners. The Tinklenberg Group was available to answer questions and provide better understanding of the planning activities that had been underway prior to any policy decisions or official actions. While the technical portion of this work can be completed in a relatively short timeframe, the potential for new development proposals in this area remain an issue without a moratorium in place. In May 2003, The Tinklenberg Group recommended the City Council consider a six- month moratorium for the Corridor to complete the technical portion of the Corridor Study. Legal notices were posted, the public hearing was called for, and the ordinance introduction was proposed for the meeting of July 8, 2003. Staff is recommending that during the moratorium, property owners are not prohibited from routine maintenance and upgrades to the building exteriors, windows, or interiors, as long as there is not an expansion of the building. This means that during the moratorium, property owners could replace roofing materials, replace or upgrade the exterior finish on a building, replace windows, or remodel or repair building interiors. Except for those properties currently operating under grandfather rights to the required site improvements (pavement and curbing), the moratorium would not exempt property owners from installing the required pavement and curbing if they are developing or expanding their customer/employee parking areas or outside display areas.