Minutes - Council - 04/27/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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work session, Council directed staffto prepare an ordinance for introduction and advertise for a public hearing. Assistant Community Development Director Trudgeon reviewed that at the recent Strategic Planning session, the City Council discussed the need to amend the 2001 Comprehensive Plan to more effectively plan for residential development outside of the current urban service area. The Council held a joint meeting with the Plmming Commission on March 16, 2004 to discuss the need to amend the Comprehensive Plan. There ~vas general consensus among Council and the Planning Connnission that this planning process should begin soon. One concern expressed by Council, and shared by staff, is that additional 2.5-acre residential development may be initiated under current zoning regulations before the Comprehensive Planning process is complete. It is staff's opinion that such development may further complicate sewer and water extension scenarios, and ultimately make the comprehensive planning process more difficult. Assistant Community Development Director Trudgeon explained based on Council direction, staff intends to bring forward a revision to the zoning code that will provide more guidance to rural and large lot landowners as to how their property can be developed while not jeopardizing the Con]prchcnsive Planning process and potential extension of urban services. It will be several months be£ore this revised zoning language can be drafted and brought before the Planning Commission and the City Council for review and approval. Based on this time lag, staff is recommending the City Council consider an interim ordinance to temporarily restrict development outside of the current urban service area. As written, the proposed interim ordinance would prohibit all platting and subdividing in the R-1 Rural Developing Zoning District. The ordinance does allow for exceptions, based on hardship. The Council will continue to issue building permits for existing lots while the moratorium is in effect. Assistant Community Development Director Tmdgeon advised staff anticipates asking the City Council to discuss changes to the R-1 Rural Developing Zoning District at a future ~vork session, before bringing a revised ordinance to the Planning Commission for their consideration. Citizen Input Bob Longfield, 5751 - 177th Avenue NW, questioned why the area has to be blanketed, and why they cannot just take property as it comes up and redevelop it or put new guidelines in. He stated a lot of that area was on a moratorium for ten years and he is very disappointed to see this. It is very fl'ustrating to have to go back to where they were, and they just had a new comprehensive plan a couple of months ago. Mayor Gamcc stated things change very fast as far as development. There are requests to develop in outlying areas and the City really did not know how to handle it. It has changed fi'om when there was a moratorium. There are a lot of changes and different forms of development to look at, so that when sewer and water is expanded the City is able to handle it in a better fashion. This should give them a much better idea on development. City Council/April 27, 2004 Page 8 of 35