Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/07/2020

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Sketch Plan The City requires a sketch plan for any major plat in order to provide the Applicant high level feedback before investing in the expense and time of a Preliminary Plat. The Sketch Plan also provides the residents of the community an opportunity to weigh in on the project before the preliminary plat, when the City will hold a formal public hearing on the project. The City wants to reiterate that if the project moves forward, there will be future opportunities for residents to weigh in on the project. The City has dedicated a webpage for the community to stay updated on this project, which can be found at http://www.cityoframsey.com/748/Trott-Brook-North. Please note that it is very likely that the project name will change throughout this process. Two adjacent projects have come forward for sketch plan at the same time - this project and a sketch plan for the Hunt Property from Platinum Land (see the attached Site Location Map for context). Staff has attempted to combine these two applications to the extent possible by combining mailings and the public open house is scheduled to discuss both projects. Rezoning 1. The Subject Property is all currently zoned R-1 MUSA (Detached Single Family), which allows for 80-foot wide lots, except the SW parcel (mostly un-buildable wetland), which is zoned R-1 Rural Residential and allows for 2.5 acre lots. 2. The Applicant has proposed 55, 65, and 75 foot wide lots. • 55 foot wide lots: requires rezoning to R-2 Detached Villa • 65 foot wide lots: requires rezoning to R-1 Detached Villa • 75 foot wide lots: requires rezoning to R-1 Detached Villa If the Planning Commission and City Council are supportive of the underlying proposal, Staff proposes a Zoning Amendment to the above districts rather than a Planned Unit Development (PUD) process. For those familiar with the PUD process, it is often seen as subjective and not as straight forward. While an appropriate zoning tool, Staff believes it is an unnecessary level of complexity in this case. [Proposed Allowed Difference The Excelsior Group (Makowsky Property) 343 lots 274 lots +69 lots Important Items • Public Park:This area is generally in the search area for a large City park. The City's Parks Director is excited about the opportunity to provide residents an amenity in this area. The park is currently proposed in the NE corner of the site and provides two fields. The park provides an amenity to Brookfield residents who have expressed the need for a public park amenity near them. There would be a covered bridge (pedestrian bridge) over Trott Brook and trails connecting Brookfield to the park. • Traffic: Many residents expressed concerns over increased traffic in the area. Nowthen Boulevard is a County Road, so Staff sent to Anoka County for review. Their review letter is attached. With one proposed entrance to the site off both Variolite Street and Nowthen Boulevard, upgrades to both roads are likely with the project (such as turn lanes). If the project moves forward, the Applicant will need to work with the City's Engineering staff and the County's Engineering Staff to propose a solution that accommodates the new homes. Additionally, the combined projects will require the Developers to prepare an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) that will include detailed traffic forecasts and recommended areawide traffic improvements. Finally, the City Council has included in their 2020 Strategic Plan an action to complete a Corridor Study of the entire Nowthen Boulevard Corridor. Staff is working with Anoka County to advance this study later in 2020 or in early 2021. • Environmental Concerns: Staff has already notified the DNR about the project due to its proximity to Trott Brook. Please see the "Next Steps" section for more information about the environmental precautions that