04-09-14 PC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION April 9, 201411 amendment to Section 1315.01 Zoning Map of the Arden Hills Zoning Code as presented in the April 9, 2014, report to the Planning Commission. The motion carried 5-1 (Jones opposed). D.Planning Case 14-002; Zoning Code Amendment Conservation District Rezoning Public Hearing Associate Planner Bachler stated that the Planning Commission is being asked to consider approval of Ordinance 14-005 in Planning Case 14-002 for an amendment to Section 1315.01 (Official Zoning Map) of the Arden Hills City Code. Associate Planner Bachler reported that on November 25, 2013, the City Council approved Ordinance 2013-010, which established a new Conservation District in the Zoning Code. Since then, staff has evaluated parcels within the City that should be rezoned as Conservation District based on the purpose of this zoning classification. Associate Planner Bachler indicated the Conservation District is meant to be applied to the Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS). While the property is now under federal ownership and being leased to the Minnesota National Guard, the City recognized that portions of AHATS could be sold to private parties in the future and developed based on the underlying zoning classifica these lands to ensure that any future development on AHATS maintains a sustainable level of public expenditures for utilities and services. Associate Planner Bachler explained that AHATS is comprised of a total of eight separate parcels. Staff has identified four of these parcels as being appropriate for rezoning as Conservation District at this time. These parcels approximately cover the area bound by County Road I on the north, Lexington Avenue on the east, Highway 96 on the south, and on the west, by a line extending directly north from Snelling Avenue North to County Road I. Associate Planner Bachler commented that the remaining four parcels are located on the western half of AHATS, adjacent to the TCAAP redevelopment site and the Rice Creek North Regional Trail. The Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department is currently working with the federal government to have additional land on these four parcels transferred to the County to be incorporated into their park system. Specifically, these acquisitions would expand the existing boundaries of the Rice Creek North Regional Trail property and add a wildlife corridor along the eastern boundary of the TCAAP site extending south to Highway 96. These additional lands were identified in the Amendment to the Rice Creek Regional Trail Master Plan, which was approved by the City Council on June 24, 2013. Associate Planner Bachler explained that following the completion of the land transfer, the City will work with Ramsey County to rezone the property acquired by the County as Parks and Open Space District. That land remaining under federal ownership would be rezoned Conservation District at that time as well.