Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/06/2012

Home

Regular Planning Commission 5. 2. Meeting Date: 09/06/2012 Submitted For: Patrick Brama By: Patrick Brama, Administrative Services Information Title: PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Resolution Approving Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Ordinance Approving Zoning Amendment in the WINDSORWOOD Subdivision Related to the City -Owned Lands Project Background: 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, 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 (RI 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. Notification: 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. Observations: 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 of a number of items including: wetlands, stormwater, maintenance, owner & encumbrance report, current and potential future usage, public input, images, etc. 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. Funding Source: