11/05/86 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

plan designations. For most of them, the plan notes how the inconsistency will be eliminated. From the city's response to the survey, it can be assumed that potential inconsistencies occurring after plan adoption are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, amending either the comprehensive plan or the zoning ordinance to keep the two consistent and to assure that development occurs consistent with both documents. Bloomington discusses the consistency issue at length in its comprehensive plan. The plan states the importance of having zoning and subdivision controls that are "in conformity with" the plan. With the observation that there is a trend toward increased reliance on consistency between the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance, the plan notes that a "prudent community" must closely evaluate ordinances and Judicial/legislative decisions with regard to the concept of consistency. The Bloomington comprehensive plan contains a table showing which land use plan categories correspond to existing zoning classifications, a valuable guide to working towards consistency between the two. The plan does note a concern about the timing of zoning, concluding that whether rezoning occurs at the time of development, or in advance of development, depends on the specifics of a particular parcel and proposal. Finally, the Bloomington plan states as one of its goals "to evaluate the relationship between the Comprehensive Plan and regulatory controls and to increase consistency between the Comprehensive Plan and the zoning and subdivision ordinances." The objective tied to this goal is to "amend the subdivision and zoning ordinances within nine months of the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan as needed to assure comprehensive plan and zoning consistency." Several communities have undertaken substantial efforts to make their zoning ordinances and comprehensive plans consistent. The communities of Eden Prairie, Coon Rapids, Plymouth and Minnetonka highlighted these efforts in their survey responses. The process used in Eden Prairie seems to reinforce use of the comprehensive plan as the framework against which all rezoning proposals are decided. In Eden Prairie, a person(s) requesting a Comprehensive Guide Plan change must provide substantial evidence to support the change, including answers to the following: 1. What impact does the requested Comprehensive Guide Plan change have on the balance of land uses in the city? 2. What impact does the plan change have on surrounding land uses? 3. What impact does the change have on the site? 4. What impact does the change have on city services, such as sewer~ water, stormwater runoff and roads? 5. Is the requested Guide Plan change a better use of the land? In cases where a proposed zoning change from "Rural" (holding zone) to a classification which permits development is inconsistent with the Guide Plan, a Guide Plan change must be Justified or the rezoning is denied. Thfs suggests that inconsistencies between the zoning ordinance and Guide Plan are never created.