4B, 09/24/12-R Draft Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 5 of items, including special requirements for senior housing and the participation of multi-family housing in the City's rental registration program. City Planner Beekman noted that staff revised the draft regulations and presented them to the City Council at their August 20, 2012, work session meeting. The Council provided additional direction and revisions and directed staff to move forward with a public hearing and Planning Commission review. Staff also sent the draft regulations to identified stakeholders in the community and asked for comments. She noted that the comments that were received were included in the packet for this agenda item. City Planner Beekman stated that based on stakeholder and City Council comments as well as interviewing staff at other communities, staff revised the draft regulations and presented them to the Planning Commission at their September 5, 2012, meeting. She noted that the Planning Commission reviewed the documents that were presented, held a public hearing, and voted 3-3 to approve the regulations as submitted. Since a majority vote was not made, the item moved forward to the City Council without a recommendation from the Planning Commission. City Planner Beekman explained that the purpose of the Zoning Code amendments is to revise the review process for multi-family housing. It would allow multi-family housing through a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process rather than the current Planned Unit Development (PUD) process. Staff drafted conditions of approval of a Conditional Use Permit, which also include a definition for enclosed parking, a revised minimum parking requirement (lowered it to accommodate for smaller units requiring less parking demands), and creating additional Conditional Use Permit criteria for multi-family dwellings. City Planner Beekman noted that within the Zoning Code, additional conditions can be added to conditional uses. Additional Conditional Use Permit criteria would include: • Minimum unit sizes of 600 square feet • Submission of a security plan and lighting plan at the time of development proposal • A requirement that enclosed parking be provided on a per unit basis • A requirement that common areas be provided • A maximum of 15% of efficiency apartments allowed within a specific development • Minimum bike parking requirements • A requirement that secured bike parking be provided • Window covering requirements City Planner Beekman stated that an applicant may review the Zoning Code and submit an application in compliance with the Zoning Code regulations through the CUP process. Or, the applicant may deviate from the minimum requirements in the Zoning Code and request a PUD process through the City. Through the PUD, the City can grant flexibility, and essentially, the City and applicant may negotiate on a number of items. Certain aspects of the Zoning Code may not be met by the application; however, some may be exceeded. The purpose of a PUD is to achieve a project that is better than could have been achieved if the underlying zoning regulations were adhered to.