10-09-13 PC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION October 9, 20133 include trails, municipal utilities, stormwater easement ponds, and single-family homes. Preserve is defined in the that are to be park preserve in the plan, all of which are located on the Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) on the eastern portion of the former TCAAP property. Currently there are not districts specifically designated for parks or open space areas within the Zoning Code. These facilities are integrated into residential or business-oriented zoning districts as permitted or conditional uses. Minnesota State law mandates that local zoning codes are consistent with adopted comprehensive plans. Establishing a Parks and Open Space District and a Conservation District would help the City meet this requirement. Further, the new districts will assist in the implementation of the land use objectives within the Zoning Code. Community Development Intern Bachler commented that staff has prepared a draft of Ordinance Number 2013-009 for a Parks and Open Spaces (POS) District and Ordinance Number 2013-010 for a Conservation (CD) District. Preliminary versions of the drafts were presented at the April 3, 2013, Planning Commission regular meeting; the April 15, 2013, Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee meeting; and the May 28, 2013, City Council work session. The discussion at each meeting focused on what types of uses should be allowed in the districts, special regulations that should be adopted, and how to address privately owned parks and open spaces. Staff has attempted to incorporate the concerns raised at these meetings into the current drafts of the ordinances. The proposed POS district would reflect the goals for the Parks and Open Space District identified in the Comprehensive Plan and could be applied to City and County Parks in Arden Hills. Additionally, this district could be appropriate for City-owned parcels that are either being used as public open space or that might be incorporated into the in the future. The Conservation District would correspond with the Park Preserve District in the Comprehensive Plan, and in its current draft could only be applied to the Arden Hills Army Training Site. It was noted that no rezoning of any property is being proposed at this time. 1305.04 Definitions Community Development Intern Bachler explained that staff is proposing to add a definition Space District. Whi believes that the uses specifically associated with City and County-owned parks should be distinguished from the broader category of public uses. The Zoning Code provides the following definition for public use: The use of any lot, parcel of land and any structure or building thereon exclusively for public purposes by any department or branch of government, federal, state, county or city, excluding independent school districts, without reference to the ownership of said lot, parcel of land, building or structure. No new or revised definitions have been proposed for the Conservation District. 1320 District Provisions 1320.04 Purpose