Minutes - Council Work Session - 10/17/2023 - Special

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would have to go through the comprehensive plan update process which would take a long time to update. He noted that the next comprehensive plan is due in 2028 and they will start working on this in 2026. Councilmember Woestehoff asked if they removed the R-IB on Brookside and the R-IC in the Nowthen area if it would still meet the spirit of the comprehensive plan. Planning Manager Larson explained that there would need to be commitment that when a smaller lot area comes in it would get approved and be built. He stated that if they only have one place designated for this, they would have to hope that it is enough to offset this and make the total number work. Councilmember Musgrove stated that there have also been concerns from the Planning Commission with some lots that are not a good size for a house as they would run into easements and other things. She noted that there may be some concerns for the size of these lots with the density that they are able to achieve. Planning Manager Larson explained that the lots she is referring to were 65 foot lots that abutted the wetland, which ended up looking a lot smaller than the lots next to them. He added that this lot still met all of the requirements and the other lots were just larger than the minimum. Councilmember Musgrove added that property owners may not know that this is a wetland. Mayor Kuzma asked what is needed from the Council to move forward. Planning Manager Larson shared that he needs direction on updating the text and the zoning map. Mayor Kuzma stated that it seems that there is consensus to reduce the density down to two lots per acre rather than three. Councilmember Riley shared that it appears that is what other cities have done. Planning Manager Larson stated that in order to do this there will need to be a comprehensive plan amendment. Community Development Director Hanson added that they will also need to identify areas in the City where they will be picking up some of the density otherwise this will not be approved by the Met Council. Mayor Kuzma asked if Staff could figure out how much they needed to transfer and where it could be transferred to. Community Development Director Hanson suggested that she and Planning Manager Larson first meet with the Met Council to make sure that they would support this. She stated that if they do not have the support of the Met Council then this will not be approved. City Council Special Work Session/ October 17, 2023 Page 4 of 16