Minutes - Council - 01/09/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case #10: Extension of Rural Developing Interim Ordinance; Case of City of Ramsey Community Development Director Trudgeon reviewed that on April 11, 2006 the City Council adopted a 9-month moratorium on subdivision and platting within the R-l: Rural Developing District. The moratorium is effective from May 15, 2006 through February 15, 2007. The purpose of the moratorium is to provide time for the Planning Commission and City Council to consider revisions to the cluster development standards in the R-l District. Council has met several times to discuss this issue; in the end the discussion boiled down to the Council being able to consider all possible options for standards in the Rural Developing Area, deferring the ultimate answer to the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update. Mr. Trudgeon indicated the proposal at the time was to adopt an ordinance to change the density in the Rural Developing Area from 1 unit per 2.5 acres to 1 unit per 10 acres, and to increase the minimum lot size to 10 acres (4 in 40). Mr. Trudgeon advised State Statute authorizes cities to adopt a moratorium for up to one year, with additional time allowable under special circumstances, none of which apply in this case. Given the time needed to complete City and Metropolitan Council review and approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment, and to allow sufficient time for both to take effect, staff is recommending that the moratorium be extended an additional 3 months. This 3 month extension will extend Ramsey's moratorium to the full 12 months allowed under the Statutes, and is not subject to the 'special circumstances' required for beyond 12 months. This would extend the moratorium until May 2007. Absent any action to extend the moratorium the standards would revert back to cluster standards; it has been made very clear those standards were not adequate. Mr. Trudgeon stated a public hearing was held last Thursday at the Planning Commission meeting with consideration of changing the standards from cluster to 4 in 40 with a 10 acre minimum. An overflow crowd was present at the hearing and the testimony received from the public was that 2-~ acre development be allowed. The Planning Commission took that testimony and deliberated. The recommendation of the Planning Commission was to recommend standards for 2-~ acre development. Mr. Trudgeon advised a decision regarding the standards is not before the Council tonight; that discussion will be on the agenda of the January 23 Council meeting with a couple of options for consideration. The action before the Council tonight is to introduce the ordinance to extend the moratorium another 3 months. Mayor Gamec commented 2-~ acre lots are difficult to develop as far as putting in roads and streets. He asked if the moratorium will provide a chance to discuss this so they will be ready for updating the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Trudgeon replied the action tonight will extend the moratorium 3 months. The conclusion of the Council was that it would be best for this land to be in a holding pattern as much as possible while respecting property rights until the Comprehensive Plan update is completed. Whether the standards are set at 10 acres or 2-~ acres, they will have to come up with something. There can be more discussion regarding this in length at the next Council meeting. Staff would like to hear if Council has strong feelings regarding this. City Council / January 9, 2007 Page 21 of24