07-19-2021 Planning Commission Packet

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FILE#LA21-46 July 19,2021 Page 2 of 3 • opportunities/character, and utility options. Developments outside of this range require an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. When a development is proposed with density below a guided class,the next lowest density class is used. For example,when the Orono Crossing townhome project was being reviewed,the developers and City were required to accept 37 units on the property to maintain 10 units per acre. If 36 units were proposed,the density would have fallen below 10 units an acre, and the next lowest class, Urban medium density(density range 3-10 units per acre),would have had to be used. Because the growth and housing goals in the Comprehensive plan are based on the lowest density in the class range, a reduction from Urban Medium High Density(10-20 units per acre)to Urban Medium Density(3-10 units per acre)would have had a negative effect on the Plan, including falling behind on our growth and affordable housing goals. The solution may have included adding higher density to areas not desired. The City Council has directed staff to prepare an amendment that provides interim steps between the classes; 3-10 units, 10-20, and 20-25. This amendment has two primary goals: 1. Establish appropriate levels of density in specific areas, and 2. Prevent situations where a reduction in density does not have a substantial negative impact on the Plan. Plan Analysis: The City is required, by Metropolitan Council mandate,to meet certain goals,including affordable housing,growth opportunity, and density. Affordable Housing. The City must provide for opportunity for 154 new affordable housing units. The Met Council recognizes that densities at 8 units per acre satisfy the affordable housing goal. The city meets this by guiding the appropriate amount of acres at a density greater than 8 units per acre. Reducing the number of acres guided for 8 units per acre or more would impact the number. Sewered Growth. The City must provide opportunity for sewered growth to meet the expected demand in the time periods 2020-2030 and 2031-2040. This is accomplished by identifying parcels with the potential to develop in the given time periods. While the city cannot require development of any parcel, anticipating the growth is important for infrastructure,service and school planning. Density. Finally, the city must develop at a density average of 3.0 units per acre in its sewered area. The city wants to provide sewer to areas adjacent to the lake without increasing the density in those areas,so higher density is identified as appropriate in other areas. Exhibit B is table 3B-4 from the Comprehensive Plan, which identifies parcels eligible for development,their guided land use and density, anticipated growth period, Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA), and Traffic Analysis zone (TAZ). How the Plan satisfies these requirements is illustrated in the following table: 41111