Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/03/2005

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Associate Planner Geisler indicated staff h~ b~en working with the Planning Commission and the City Council on a draft cluster ordinance: for the Rural Developing Area. Generally, a new subdivision under the proposed Standards WOuld contain the same number of lots permitted under current zoning, clustered in a ~rtion 0~'ithe. Property, with a remainder parcel that could be developed when and if city sewer is avail~bte:tO that parcel. New lots would range from ¼-acre to 3A-acre in size, and would be Served by:a!%rnmunity septic system that would be located on a lot controlled by a Homeowners AssOciati0~a ~(HOA). The HOA would own, maintain, and monitor the communal system, ' Infrastmc~ture required to hook up the system to 'City sewer would be installed at the front end to aVoidiCgstly retrofitting down the road. The remainder of the parcel not utilized for clustetilots Or ~he eoramunal system would be platted as one or more outlots to allow further urban development whea and if urban services are available to the site. · Associate Planner Geisler advised all. neTM subdivisions would need to meet the neTM Standards, regardless of lot size and there would be !i°ex~epti°n for simple 10t splits. Parcels that are five acres or larger would be eligible ,for subdiVisiOn Under the new requirements, as is the case under the current code. Park: dedication and density transition requirements in City Code would apply to new subdivisions under the new code~ :There was discussion at the Planning Commission meeting about whether these su~:liviSion~ shOuld be processed as PUD's. The Commission recommended a couple of changes to,the!Ordinance as follows: The Homeowners Association reference the Development Agr%ment.-Spocifleally and more clarity on the remnant parcel that is described. Those changes are ineiuded in StaffTM recommendation. Councilmember Strommen asked: what the -sitUation would be with the communal septic system when sewer is connected with these Sites,'and if there are environmental concerns. Associate Planner Geisler replied the :septic system would be the responsibility of the Homeowners AssociatiOn. : · . ; Councilmember Olson asked if there is a~state standard regarding cluster developments and what the state law states regarding abandonmen~ of the;septic systems. Associate Planner Geisler indicated she is }nOt. aware of the state requirements regarding this, but the process for cluster developments t0 hook u~P to City sewer would be contingent on the proper abandonment of the septic system~ ~ Councilmember Elvig Stated langUage should be brought forWard regarding the septic systeTM. Councilmember Cook stated the :cluster deVeloPments are a good strategy. This ordinance needs to move forward fCr this building seaSon~ and :they will have to~ add some things to this in the future. First is if hook up shouldlbe required,at the time of City sewer and water, which he thinks should be required. Also, the HOmeoWners AssOciation will have to say what will be done with the land that has the septic system on·it. He: noted one of the things they talked about with this clustering was the ability to get mor~greenSpace; It will also need to be addressed how the land that is not used at the present time is used in the future. This is a good start and they need something in place for this building season; but it:will need to be fine tuned in the next two years. City Coungil~. ebruary 8, 2005 Page 25 of 30 P65