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another hive. This is typically done every year so there is enough going into winter to account for <br />losses. He noted six was tight and most beekeepers he knows want more than one or two hives. <br />With the current numbers that are presented, it would be accurate and most hobby beekeepers in <br />this area keep under 20 hives. <br /> <br />Deputy City Administrator/Community Development Director Hagen referenced Mr. Little’s <br />comments that most hives are significantly smaller than 20 cubic feet and asked if that number <br />should be adjusted to something smaller. <br /> <br />Mr. Little replied he would suggest removing the whole line, or leaving it as is because enough <br />room needs to be ensured to prevent swarming which would create a problem for neighbors. <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma thanked Mr. Little for coming. <br /> <br />Mr. Little offered to answer any further questions or contribute to an Expo about bees. <br /> <br />2.03: Review Comprehensive Plan Amendment Options for MUSA Areas North of Trott <br />Brook <br /> <br />Senior Planner McGuire Brigl reviewed the staff report. She stated that the Metropolitan Council <br />requested more units be added on the property to be in compliance with the City’s Comprehensive <br />Plan. That would require a down zoning with smaller properties. Two options were presented: <br />the Metropolitan Council’s preference of reducing lot size to three units per acre, or amending the <br />Comprehensive Plan to allow for a lower density in unique situations. Staff’s recommendation is <br />to create a new designation in the Comprehensive Plan to allow for lower density, less than three <br />units per acre. The main question regarding this case is why less than three units per acre are <br />allowed everywhere in the MUSA district because it would be supportive of the rural character, <br />but if the City goes under three units per acre, which the Metropolitan Council tracks, they would <br />stop allowing sewer and water permits for commercial, industrial and residential projects. It would <br />be a misuse of their waste water system which would halt the City’s growth. She explained it is <br />not recommended to go under three units per acre as a City but in certain situations it could be <br />allowed. Staff is recommending an amendment be made to the Comprehensive Plan which would <br />be called an Urban Residential Low District. It would be based on a similar one done by the City <br />of Andover because this area is adjacent to existing low-density residential, there are a lot of <br />wetland on site, and is a constrained site with only one entrance on both sides, that a lower density <br />of units would be allowed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley referenced Senior Planner McGuire Brigl’s comments mentioning wetlands <br />and asked if the case refers not just to developable acres because that is a constraint that the City, <br />and this property has. <br /> <br />Senior Planner McGuire Brigl replied that the Metropolitan Council tracks density much <br />differently than the City would. Certain things are allowed to be excluded such as designated <br />wetlands and flood plains, but roads, buffers, stormwater ponds cannot be excluded. She noted <br />that even though the density from the City’s perspective with quarter acre lots, 80 foot wide, would <br />typically be four units and an acre would make sense logically because these exclusions are not <br />City Council Work Session / December 14, 2021 <br />Page 4 of 10 <br /> <br />