Minutes - Council Work Session - 10/07/2003

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Mayor Gamec stated that they should zone the property residential and if the landowners want to bring forward a commercial plan the Council could still consider the request and rezone the property. Councilmember Strommen felt that it was a difficult issue because there is commercial development in the area and she personally did not feel that the land has a residential feel because there is commercial development to the west. Majority consensus of the City Council was to designate the land north or Riverdale commercial and the land south of Riverdale residential. Community Development Director Frolik noted that the item would be placed on the October 28th Council agenda. She stated that the last Comprehensive Plan amendment has to do with the property south of Highway #10 and west of the State wayside rest park. Joe Nathe's property south of Highway #10 at the Elk River boarder is currently zoned commercial. The Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use map designates Mr. Nathe's property and the other parcels located west of the State park as low density residential. Mr. Nathe is opposed to the proposed rezoning to residential and wishes to maintain the commercial zoning. Staff has had telephone conversations with Dennis Cobey, property owner immediately adjacent to the wayside park, and he also wishes to maintain his commercial zoning. He has an option to purchase the adjacent vacant parcel to the west and he wants that parcel also to retain its commercial zoning. There is one single parcel in this area that is currently zoned single family residential. At the June I0th City Council work session, City Council directed City staff to initiate a Comprehensive Plan amendment to amend the Future Land Use map to change a portion of the property adjacent to Highway #10 back to Places to Shop. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on August 7th and recommended approval of the amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. The proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment was presented to the City Council on August 26th for approval. At that time, staff suggested that changing this area to Mixed Use might be preferable to a Places to Live/Places to Shop split. City Council directed staff to place this issue on a work session agenda for fi~rther discussion. Majority consensus of the City Council was to add the issue to the October 28th City Council agenda to change the zoning to Mixed Use. Counci hnember Cook stated that he viewed both of the last properties as being very similar and so he did not understand why both the property owners weren't given the same opportunity. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if the mixed-use designation would go all the way to the river. Community Development Director Frolik replied yes. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if that would allow for townhomes to be built next to the river. City Council Work Session/October 7, 2003 Page 9 of 14