Agenda - Council - 12/16/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PROPOSED H-1 HIGHWAY 10 BUSINESS DISTRICT CASE OF CITY OF RAMSEY By: Megan Wald, Associate Planner Background: As the City Council may recall, the City adopted a resolution supporting MnDot's vision and corridor management plan for Highway 10 and pledged the City's commitment to work in partnership with MnDot to implement the recommendations outlined in the T.H. 10 Corridor Management Plan. On May 13, 2003 the City engaged the services of The Tinklenberg Group to perform an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) to examine the proposed transportation alternatives and the subsequent impacts to properties needed for the improvements of Highway 10. On July 22, 2003 the City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a moratorium on the development of certain parcels located north of Highway #10. The purpose of the moratorium is to restrict any new development or expansions of existing developments until such time that the AUAR is completed and the official map for Highway 10 can be implemented. The following items are enclosed for your review: 1. Proposed H-1 Highway #10 Business District 2. Site location map of properties proposed to be subject to the H-1 Ordinance Observations: The first six month term of the moratorium is set to expire on February 25, 2004. Since the properties are in a state of transition and the development moratorium is set to expire soon, it would seem appropriate to create a zoning district that addresses the properties potentially affected by future Highway 10 corridor improvements. The subject area is currently zoned B-2 Highway Business. Staff is proposing to create a new zoning district, H-1 Highway #10 Business District for the properties currently within the moratorium (starting at the Ramsey/Anoka border and ending at Puma Street). The intent of the H-1 Highway #10 Business District is to recognize that certain parcels may be required for future improvements of Highway 10 and clearly notify land owners that the City desires to minimize the development impact within said district. A major component to the H-1 ordinance is to require construction of new businesses and major expansions or additions of existing businesses be processed through a Special Use Permit (SUP) in conjunction with the site plan process. The SUP process will allow the City Council the ability to adopt findings regarding the proposed structure and business use. The proposed findings stated in Subd. 3 of the ordinance are typical findings adopted when issuing a conditional use permit or an interim use permit. Processing a SUP provides the City Council the flexibility to review the long and short term effects of the proposed development based on the intent and findings of the H-1 district. The following outlines the key components in the H-1 district. It should be noted that the general performance standards contained in the H-1 district are the same as those already established in the B-2 Highway Business District with the exception of allowable building square footage.