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Gem Lake NewsPage 3 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Well-known city planner Marc Putman of <br />Putman Planning and Design has been <br />invited to take part in the August 1 City <br />Council Workshop at 7:00 p.m. You are <br />invited to attend and provide your feedback <br /> <br />The focus of the workshop will be to come <br />up with ideas for further enhancement of the <br />city's Gateway Zoning District ordinance, <br />which deals with open parcels of <br />undeveloped land along County Road E and <br />the Hoffman's Corner business district. <br /> <br />In particular, the council would like advice <br />on how to come up with incentives for <br />developers, which was also discussed <br />briefly at the July workshop. <br /> <br />Putman Planning and Design first began <br />working with the city in 2007 to develop a <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Putman to Provide City Planning Advice at Workshop <br /> bold, mixed use "village center" vision for <br />open land on County Road E and the <br />business district at the intersection of <br />County Road E and Highway 61. He <br />helped the city to develop an overall plan <br />or "corridor," called the Gateway Zoning <br />District, aimed at enhancing the small- <br />town, semi rural feeling of the city, while <br />allowing for careful development and <br />increased density of both a commercial <br />and residential nature. <br /> <br />The result was a corridor area divided into <br />four basic sections. These sections would <br />be tied together with common and <br />somewhat linking road designs, focal <br />points, green spaces, thoughtful building <br />orientations and unexpected parking <br />options. Putman's input this August will <br />further assist the city to be ready for <br />developers who may be interested in Gem <br />Lake once the economy picks up. <br />The Gem Lake Planning Commission <br />recently approved an ordinance allowing <br />for a garden "overlay" zone for larger <br />undeveloped parcels in Gem Lake, <br />including the city's Gateway Zoning District. <br />This would allow for the temporary use of <br />this land for agricultural purposes, under <br />set guidelines, while the market for <br />commercial and residential development <br />recovers from the current downturn. <br />The land-use plans for Gem Lake have not <br />historically assigned any land in the city for <br />long-term agricultural use. This is due to <br />the fact that the city has developed, and <br />continues to develop, as a primarily <br />residential community, surrounded by fully <br />developed suburban neighborhoods. <br />Draft Ordinance #122 was approved by the <br />Commission on June 7 and now goes to <br />the Gem Lake City Council for further <br />discussion at the July 21 meeting. <br />Garden Overlay Ordinance Approved by Planning Commission <br />