01-06-2014 Council Minutes Special Meeting

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MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 6, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 27 (1. #13-3638 and #13-3639 SOURCE LAND CAPITAL, LLC (PAT HILLER) O/B/O GRANT WENKSTERN (LAKEVIEW GOLF), 405 NORTH ARM DRIVE – COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT AND SKETCH PLAN REVIEW, Continued) The principal question on the sketch plan is whether the Council supports the use of an RPUD approach or two-acre lots. The question for the applicants is the type of development that will then result based on that density. The first alternative plan, which was considered by the Planning Commission, utilized an RPUD approach with provided access to a central road from which several short spurs extended to clusters of one-acre lots. The primary feature of that design was retention of just under half of the gross land area as common open space. Grittman stated while the Planning Commission gave an informal endorsement to this idea, the City Council was less favorable and preferred two-acre zoning. Grittman noted the sketch plan review is basically advising the applicant on the general direction the City would like the development to follow. Under a standard plat arrangement, the applicant would be required to design a project that has the minimum width and lot area for each lot of public streets. Levang thanked Grittman for the clarification of the two-acre averaging that is being proposed under the revised sketch plan. McMillan noted historically Lakeview Golf Course has been located in the City’s two-acre zoning district. McMillan asked whether other cities, when there is a difference between their zoning districts and guidance under the Comprehensive Plan, whether they immediately go to the task of reconciling all of those differences. Grittman indicated the requirements of the Metropolitan Council’s are to bring the City’s official controls into compliance with the Comprehensive Plan within nine months but that it is not a concrete deadline enforced by the Metropolitan Council. Grittman indicated in this particular case, the guidance and the land use or the zoning designation, given the historic use of the property, are consistent since golf courses are allowed in the rural residential district and there are not necessarily any conflicts. McMillan asked if it would be a separate process for reconciling those differences and whether the property owners would be provided notice that their property may be re-guided. Grittman stated if the City goes through the Comprehensive Plan process and decides to take an area and designate it for a different land use designation than what the previous plan called for, that would be part of the Comprehensive Plan public process. The City is not required to notice individual property owners; although, some cities will do that if major changes are being proposed. Grittman stated at the zoning stage, the City is generally required to individually notify any affected property, which would be similar to any other zoning application. McMillan asked if more detail is required when the City is changing the zoning ordinance and less detail if they are changing Comprehensive Plan guidance. Grittman stated it would be a more administrative or technical process on the zoning side and more of a policy process on the Comprehensive Plan side.