re: proposed development - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

� Bausman/Larkin November 24,2008 Page 2 (b) The property is directly adjacent to or across a public street from property which has been developed previously as a RPUD or planned residential development and will be perceived as and will function as an extension of that previously approved development. (c) The property is located in an area where the proposed development provides a transition between a commercial or industrial area and an existing residential area or on an intermediate or principal arterial as defined in the comprehensive plan. (d) The property contains steep slopes or a substantial number of significant trees that could be preserved through the clustering of buildings or other design techniques not generally allowed by the existing zoning district. It is my opinion that the proposed development likely satisfies condition(c)and potentially satisfies conditions (a) and (d). CMP Amendment Timin Issues. The Comprehensive Plan Amendment process requires review by the Planning Commission and approval by the Ciry Council, as well as Metropolitan Council acceptance. The timing of your upcoming request for Comp Plan Amendment is problematic, because Orono is in the midst of updating its Comprehensive Plan. Plan updates were required to be submitted to adjacent municipalities far a 6-month review period by June 30, 2008 and formally submitted to Met Council by December 31,2008. Orono's Plan update is still being drafted and the City has recently received an extension to July 31, 2009 for submittal of the Plan to Met Council. However,Met Council has adopted a policy of not accepting for review after December 3 l,2008 any comp plan amendments that are not directly related to the statutory requirement for Decennial Update, as follows: "After December 31,2008,the Metropolitan Council will accept for review only 2030 plan updates that are submitted pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 473.864,and amendments to those plan updates. This means that,as of January 1, 2009,the only amendments the Metropolitan Council will process and review are amendments to 2030 (updated) comprehensive plans." The timing problem here is that the City Council can take action to approve an amendment of the current (2020) comp plan only after review by Planning Commission, and the application deadline for review by the Planning Commission in 2008 was in mid-October. The Planning Commission does not meet in December, hence any application you make now will not be reviewed by the Planning Commission until mid-January,at the same time that the City is intending to hold hearings on its 2030 update. Met Council action to approve the 2030 Plan Update is not likely to occur until late summer or early fall of 2009. Met Council s�aff has indicated to me that it would be acceptable for the City to add land use amendments such as yours to the Plan Update, rather than waiting until next fall to amend the approved 2030 Plan. This process would save you a few months next fall by allowing you to do the CMP Amendment now and work through the RPUD rezoning and Development Plan approval during the spring of 2009.