Agenda - Planning Commission - 06/21/1995 - Special Meeting

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CASE CONSIDER AMENDING THOROUGHFARE SETBACK By: Steven J. Jankowski, City Engineer Background: In Fall 1993, the ~lanning Commission suggested that the City revise the thoroughfare setback requirements. Atiapproximately the same time, Anoka County was revising its advisory setback policy and eventu[dly adopted such a policy in May 1994. A copy of that policy is attached to this case. For purposgs of the County policy, it should be noted that the following roadways within the City of RamseS, fall into the following classifications: Principal Arterial U.S. Highway #10 Minor Ax't0[rial A Trunk Highway g47 Minor Art~[rial B County Road #116 and County Road #56 Collectors All other County Roads Our existing polic~y for thoroughfares calls for a setback of 50 feet from the right-of-way line or 110 feet from the'centerline, whichever is greater. The County's policy results in a decrease in setbacks along col ~nty roads. For example, a single-family home fronting on a county road in the rural district wou d be allowed 100 feet from the center of the right-of-way, 10 feet less than allowed under the :urrent policy. Commissioner Deemer suggested even a further reduced setback of 83 feet from th~. centefline or the zoning setback, whichever was greater. He pointed out that a single-family horn; in the rural district, on a county road with a 66 foot right-of-way, would result in a ten-foot great~ r setback than what would normally be required by a typical residential street. There would be nb difference between Commissioner Deemer's proposal and the new County policy used on roadways where the desired 120 foot right-of-way had been required. At the direction of the P1 .arming Commission, Commissioner Deemer and I met on May 5, 1995, as a task force subcommittee in an attempt to resolve this issue. We had agreed to a compromise thoroughfare setback policy which would be as follows: On U.S. Highway #10 - existing zoning setbacks control since right-of-way widths are so large. On Trunk Highway #47 - setback requirements shall be specified as a part of the impending ~orddors study. [ On County~ Roads #116 and #56 - adopt the County policy of 60 feet from the centerline df the right-of-way plus the City's standard setback. On all othei~ County roads - adopt a policy of an additional setback constraint of 83 feet from the centerlin~ Commission Action: Motion to adopt po~cy and direct staff to prepare an ordinance amendment. Reviewed by: City Administrator City Engineer PC:06/21/95 /ccr