Minutes - Council - 11/27/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Motion carried. Case #11: Refer City's Comprehensive Plan Amendments to the Planning Commission City Administrator Norman stated that the Ramsey City Council sent a revised Comprehensive Plan to the Metropolitan Council in February of this year and the document was approved on March 28, 2001. As part of the process to adopt the Comprehensive Plan, the City utilized the services of Larry Bakken, a facilitator, to work out agreements prior to the final adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. The facilitator-led discussions were concluded on Monday, November 26, 2001. Proposed changes are made primarily in the land use section, however, additional sewer and water land exchanges are made in two other sections of the Comprehensive Plan. The land use section will also include a number of changes to the land use map from the March 28, 2001 approved document. Staff requested that the Council direct the Comprehensive Plan amendments be forwarded to the Planning Commission to hold a public heating in order to comply with State Statute 462.355. After review with the City Attorney, it-was noted that the neighborhood notification process is more appropriately designated for the zoning changes, not. for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment. There have been a number of minor Comprehensive Plan amendments that have already begun the Planning Commission process and will be heard by the City during scheduled meeting in December. Staff will seek further clarification to the land use designation for those minor Comprehensive Plan amendments. The final issue discussed during the facilitator-led discussions concerned the proposed Density Transition Ordinance. This matter will be prepared as a case and presented to the Council in December. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that there are roughly 12 changes to the Comprehensive Plan and at least one has to do with land that a developer has requested on a property that they do not own or have a purchase agreement on. That aside, the action the Council took last night during the last meeting with the facilitator was to notify people within 250 feet of any land-use change to inform them as to what would be occurring. If he as a homeowner were to have looked at the Comprehensive Plan previously and found it acceptable he may not continue to follow it and then to find out later there was a last minute change he would be very upset. Secondly he did not think that the Planning Commission is the required body to hold the public hearing. He felt that the Council needs to hear the comments not the Planning Commission, since the Council will be making the final decision. Mr. Hendriksen stated that he would prefer that the public hearing be held in front of the Council and that any property owner who is within 350 feet to any of the last minute changes be notified. City Administrator Norman noted that the Council did not take any action during the meeting with the facilitator only gave direction. All action is taken during a regular City Council meeting, which is why the issue was on the agenda. City Attorney Goodrich explained that the Statute for adopting a Comprehensive Plan states that the Planning agency shall hold a public hearing and notice of the public hearing shall be published once at least ten days prior to the hearing in the public newspaper. There is no City Council/November 27, 2001 Page 19 of 22