Agenda - Planning Commission - 11/06/2000

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CASE # PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH DENSITY TRANSITION STANDARDS FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT By: Community Development Director Background: A very important aspect of the draft comprehensive plan is that language which would establish density standards for new development abutting existing development. As you know, the Chapter 9 Subcommittee (Councilmembers Hendriksen and Zimmerman, Planning Commissioners Nixt and Dempsey) was appointed to work with Loren Gordon of Hoisington Koegler Group to review and amend, as necessary, the City's zoning regulations (City Code Chapter 9) to implement the newly drafted Comprehensive Plan. This group has been meeting regularly since July 27 and their first and major task has been to draft an ordinance that would establish transition requirements between new and existing residential development. Ail of the subcommittee meetings and some of the regular and special Planning Commission meetings thus far have been devoted to this specific amendment. The purpose of the Charter amendment that requires a transition between new and existing residential development of differing densities is to mitigate the impact higher density residential development may have on existing, lower density neighborhoods. The Planning Commission conducted a special meeting on Monday, October 16, 2000, to finalize the draft ordinance to establish density transition requirements. Through their discussion and thought process, they resolved that the intent of the Charter amendment is to protect those people that bought property thinking that the property next to them would be developed consistent with their neighborhood. In summary, density transitioning would be required for new residential developments that result in an increase in density from existing, adjacent residential neighborhoods, with a couple of exceptions as described below. The Planning Commission is of the opinion that it would not be reasonable to apply density transition requirements to parcels that were already zoned for a higher density than single family at the time the Charter amendment became affective (October 22, 1997). In addition, if a proposed residential development requires changing the zoning of the proposed site from Commercial or Industrial to Residential (R-1, R-2, R~3, MR or PUD), the proposed development should not be subject to density transitioning requirements because the residents adjacent to the site were anticipating a more intense use than residential · At the conclusion of the October 16 meeting, the Planning Commission directed Staff to make the necessary modifications to the draft ordinance based on their discussion. By informal discussion and no formal motion, they also stated that the draft ordinance may be passed onto City Council with the caveat that the Commissioners have not had the opportunity to see their final draft in print. 9,