Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 11/09/2017

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Review File: Villas at North Fork Sketch Plan, Comprehensive Plan Amendment, and Conditional Zoning Amendment October 31, 2017 Page 2 of 4 of Ramsey has been developed in this pattern, and only some areas guided Rural Developing contain large lots that could be subdivided into 2.5 acre lots. The Rural Developing area is the largest land use within the City of Ramsey. The existing primary use of this area is very low -density residential development with average densities of roughly 1 unit per 2.5 acres, a development pattern that was established it the early 1970s. Because of this very low -density pattern of development and the numerous wetlands, the extension of urban services to the rural developing area is not practical or financially feasible. The maximum density for the Rural Developing area shall be 1 unit per 2.5 acres gross. This density was determined by examining the natural features and the predominant existing density within the Rural Developing area. Proposed Comprehensive Plan (Future Land Usel Designation — Medium Densitv Residential These areas are within the MUSA and intended to receive medium density housing including lower density multi -family housing and higher density single-family housing. Average density will be 6 units per acre (acceptable range is 4 to 7 units per acre). Medium density residential shall not exceed 7 units per net acre. Medium density areas include housing units such as attached and detached townhouses, condominiums, duplexes and triplexes or small apartment buildings. These areas are smaller, typically "infill" sites, that would not be conducive to high density housing, yet would be underutilized as single family housing. These areas take advantage of close proximity to park and open spaces, commercial and public services and accessibility to the road network. If low -density residential land is rezoned to accommodate higher density residential uses, the new high density residential development shall include a transition area between existing single-family detached housing and the new high -density housing. This transition area may consist of single-family detached home, open space or some other transition acceptable to the City Council. The Comprehensive Plan Amendment also requests extension of the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA). Zoning District The project site is currently located within a Planned Unit Development (PUD) District (Northfork). This PUD contemplated a range of one (1) acre and two (2) acre lots on private well and septic, with a total of 19 lots planned. However, review below is based on the R-2 Residential District. If the project is to move forward, this Zoning Amendment will need to be approved. The intent of the R-2 Residential District is to accommodate multiple dwellings at a density of [four] to seven dwelling units per acre and multiple -dwelling complexes within the [Metropolitan Urban Service Area]. All lots created by subdivision located within the MUSA shall be serviced by sanitary sewer and municipal water. Additionally, the project site is partially located within the Shoreland Overlay District for Lake Itasca (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources designation). This may impact the lots along Alpine Drive. The request will be sent to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for comment. 2