Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2C, 2011 Planning Commission Goals and Work Plan ..... ..... .... E - E - f ,-A EN HILLS Request for Council Review 2C Prepared By: Meagan Beekman,City Planner Work Session Date: February 22,2011 2011 Planning Commission Goals and Work Plan Discussion To pi Discuss possible goals and project priorities for 2011, and produce a list of items to develop into a work plan. Supporting Documents: 1. Memorandum dated February 22,2011, from Meagan Beekman, City Planner. ,-ARQEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: February 22, 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Planning Commission FROM: Meagan Beekman, City Planner \P, SUBJECT: 2011 Goals and Work Plan Requested Action Discuss possible goals and project priorities for 2011, and produce a list of items to develop into a work plan. Background The City Council will be meeting in March to discuss the 2011 goals and priorities. This discussion will include projects that they would like each of the City's commissions and committees to accomplish for the year. To assist in their discussion, Staff would like the Planning Commission to provide input to the City Council on a brief list and description of projects that they see as important and would like to complete in 2011. The Council will use the recommendations from the various committees and commissions in order to prioritize projects _ and determine budgeting and time allocation for the projects that they would like to see accomplished in the coming year. While the Council will make the final determination as to what the goals and priorities are for the upcoming year, it may be useful for them to have a discussion with the Commissioners about these items. Discussion The Planning Commission differs from the City's other committees and commissions in that the purpose and scope of the Commission's work is largely determined by State Statute. The review City of Arden Hills City Council and Planning Commission Joint Work Session for February 2Z 2011 1Metro-inet.uslardenhills44dminrouncilL4gendas&Packet lnformation1201112-22-11 WorksessionTacketlnformation102-22-11-PC and CC Joint Work Session-2011 Goals and Project Priorities-Memo.d fage 1 of 3 ........ . ......... .. ........ and evaluation of the City's various Land Use Applications, Zoning Code Amendments, and other planning related projects takes up the vast amount of the Commission's focus and time. - For the most part, Planning Commission agendas are filled with these items, and Planning Staff spends most of their time preparing and evaluating these projects to be brought before the Planning Commission. The Pulte development project is an example of a planning case which is anticipated in the upcoming year, and will likely take a considerable amount of Staff and Planning Commission time. That being said, there are occasions when it is appropriate for the Planning Commission and Staff to step back and evaluate the efficacy of our processes and ordinances. A number of suggestions for improvements to the Zoning Code have come up over the last year, both from Commissioners, Councilmembers, and Staff. if planned out appropriately, it may be possible to prioritize these items and time them throughout the year to assure that the Planning Commission and Staff can give them proper review and evaluation. A number of these items are listed below. Please feel free to add your own suggestions and ideas. A discussion of these items is necessary to prioritize and identify a list of three or four projects. The scale and amount of work that could potentially go into each of these items differs, and should be part of the discussion. 1. Adoption of wetland setbacks within the Zoning Code 2. Develop a Parks and Open Space Zoning District and rezone the City's park areas and the balance of the TCAAP and AHATS property 3. Begin the design process for implementing the County Road E public improvements as defined in the Guiding Plan for the B2 District 4. Major revision of the City's Subdivision Ordinance 5. Provide training opportunities for Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners on land use planning and law 6. 7. S. Staff will take notes and produce a list that will be forwarded on to the City Council for consideration at their March goals and priorities discussions. Based on the outcome of the City of Arden Hills City Council and Planning Commission Joint Work Session for February 22, 2011 lVdetro-inet.uslardenhillsWdminlCouncilWgendas&Packet Jnfbrmation1201112-22-11 Worksession Packet lnformationW-22-11-PC and CC Joint Work Session-2011 Goals and Project Priorities-Memo. dcage 2 Of 3 Council's meetings, Staff will finalize the priority projects and report to the Planning Commission. - Planning Commission and City Council Training Opportunities As part of the 2011 goals, there has been discussion by the Commission Chair, Councilmember Holmes, and Staff to provide training opportunities to Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners regarding land use planning and the law. The League of MN Cities offers an e-learning land use series as part of their loss control program. The League provides liability insurance to many communities in Minnesota, including Arden Hills. They have found that cities that have Commissioners and Councilmembers who are educated about land use law and make sound rulings are less likely to be sued, or to lose lawsuits when they are filed, than communities where there has not been special training provided. The website-based training is designed to make land use decisions less confusing, and will help cities avoid expensive land use claims and lawsuits. The first course, and the only one currently offered, is called `Land-Use Basics — Grasping the Ground Rules'; the course is offered online, and takes about 45 minutes to complete. Staff will provide additional information via email. Staff s goal would be to have every Planning Commissioner and at least a quorum of the City Council complete the online course. Government Training Services (GTS) is also offering their twice-annual land use planning series throughout the months of March and April. Courses are designed for Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners, and are typically offered in full and half day sessions throughout the Twin Cities. Of the many courses offered, the following are upcoming sessions that would certainly be useful to attend: • Your Role as a Planning Commission Member: Tuesday, March 22; St. Paul; 8:30 am — 12:30 pm • Basics of Planning and Zoning: Thursday, April 7; Bloomington; 9:00 am---4:30 pin There has been discussion that attendance at one of these sessions at least once during each term, as well as participation in the League's e-learning courses, be mandatory in order to serve on the Planning Commission and be able to be considered for a subsequent term. The details about how -- that might work have not yet been determined; however, it is clear that members of the City Council and Staff believe that these are invaluable learning opportunities that Commissioners and Councilmembers should take advantage of. City ofArden Hills City Council and Planning Commission Joint Work Session for February 22, 2011 1 Metro-inet.uslardenhilisUdmtnlCouncilUgendas&Packet lnformation1201112-22-11 WorksessionlPacket Infortnationl02-22-11-PC and CC Joint Work Session-2011 Goals and Project Priorities-Memo.dVage 3 of 3