Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/02/2017

Home

Regular Planning Commission Meeting Date: 02/02/2017 By: Tim Gladhill, Community Development 5. 2. Information Title: PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Resolution #17-02-040 Approving a Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the Armstrong West Area Purpose/Background: The purpose of this case is to hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to City Council regarding the Comprehensive Plan Amendment outlined below. Notification: Staff attempted to notify all Property Owners within 350 feet of the Subject Property. The Public Hearing Notice was published in the Anoka County UnionHerald. Observations/Alternatives: Comprehensive Plan Amendment The Comprehensive Plan Amendment is the first step of several to implementing a land use vision. This first step is often abstract, but provides important broad policy direction to continue on with more detailed analysis. Before the City completes more detailed studies and analysis at increasing costs, the City should ensure that the overall vision is acceptable to the community. This is not the final opportunity for the Planning Commission to recommend policy direction on land use for this area. That being said, if the Commission desires additional information in order to make an informed decision, this is the opportunity to pause and request more detailed information. The Amendment is focused on two adjacent, but separate project areas. 1. Pearson Properties of Ramsey 1. Due to a proposed residential subdivision, some slight adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan are proposed. 2. Hageman Holdings 1. Per the recommendation of the Economic Development Authority, the Planning Commission is asked to consider amending the Comprehensive Plan to facilitate the development of a new business park. The site is currently a mix of public -quasi public (originally proposed for a large private school) and retail. Medium Density Residential This area is largely unchanged from the current Comprehensive Plan. In fact, the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment actually slightly reduces density in pockets of the Amendment Area. Of note, two smaller pockets of High Density Residential have now been removed. It is anticipated that the residential project proposed by Capstone Homes (Pearson Farm) will utilize a Planned Unit Development approach to execute the final approvals. Business Park The impetus for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment to Business Park is the result of a site selection exercise by the City's Economic Development Authority to look for ways to continue to foster future business and employment growth. The City's existing business parks are essentially at capacity, save for a few small infill spots. The City