Agenda - Council - 01/23/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Observations: As the City Council will recall, there were several development proposals submitted in 2005 under the cluster subdivision development standards. During the review of those proposals, many concerns about the cluster development standards were raised by Planning Commissioners, City Councilmembers, residents, and staff, including lot size, density transitioning requirements, function and maintenance of the common septic system, and open space requirements. The City Council discussed the option of making minor changes to the cluster ordinance, but essentially leaving it in place. There was concern that to effectively amend the cluster ordinance, additional base information was needed, particularly in relation to open space and greenway needs for the city. Because this information will be assembled during the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update process, the Council directed Staff to pursue an 'interim' Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment for the Rural Developing Area that is intended to be in place until the 2008 Comprehensive Plan update is complete. Through the Update process, it is expected that the Land Use designation and associated zoning requirements for the Rural Developing Area will be revisited. At the November 21, 2006 work session, the City Council directed Staff to prepare a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment that would change the density and lot requirements in the Rural Developing Area from 1 unit per 2.5 acres to 1 unit per 10 acres. Both draft amendments were brought before the Planning Commission at their January 4,2007 meeting, and a public hearing was held. As can be seen in the meeting minutes, there was general consensus among the Planning Commissioners and those who spoke at the public hearing that the cluster standards should be removed from City Code. There was also general support for going back to the 2.5-acre lot standards that were in place before the cluster ordinance was adopted, rather than going to 10-acre standards (4-in-40), similar to those that are currently in place in the Rural Preserve and Central Rural Reserve. The Planning Commission recommended that the City Council deny the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment, and amend Chapter 9 to eliminate the cluster development option and revert to 2.5-acre lots in the Rural Developing Area. They further recommended that the City Council consider enhancing the performance standards for resubdivision plans, should the 2.5-acre lot standards go forward. Staff included some possible standards within the 2.5-acre option included with this case. -248-