2012 06-19 CCP - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF GEM LAKE, RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. 122 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF GEM LAKE TO ADD A NEW SECTION ALLOWING FOR A GARDEN OVERLAY ZONE. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GEM LAKE ORDAINS: SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. A new Section 14 of Ordinance 43K is added, to read as follows: SECTION 14 - GARDEN OVERLAY DISTRICT Section 14.1 Findings and Purpose. 14.1.1 The City Council makes the following findings: A) The land -use plans of the City of Gem Lake historically have not assigned any land in the City for long-term agricultural use, as the City has developed and continues to develop as a primarily residential community surrounded by fully developed suburban neighborhoods. The City Council reaffirms the City's intent to encourage development of the City in accordance with its adopted comprehensive plans. B) At the time this Ordinance is considered, large land parcels in the City have yet to develop any primary use and stand vacant. Additional large -lot property in the City is projected to subdivide and develop into smaller lots over the next 10 to 30 years. The City Council recognizes that economic conditions are not always favorable for real estate development, and that the costs to carry vacant land can create pressures that promote sub- optimal development. Permitting small-scale agriculture as a primary use will allow owners of large undeveloped parcels to qualify for agricultural tax classification, and thus lower tax payments, without affecting the long-term plans for the land. The Council finds that providing this means to temporarily ease this pressure will enhance the City's ability to fully realize the goals of its comprehensive plans. C) Several cities and metropolitan areas are placing a greater emphasis on local food production as a means of improving public health. Allowing the use of available space in the City for "community gardens" or "market gardens" to grow food will promote local food production and improve public health in Gem Lake and the surrounding community. D) As an interim use of land, subject to the regulations proposed, community gardening and market gardening will be compatible with all allowed land uses in the City of Gem Lake, and with the goals of the City's comprehensive plan. 14.1.2 The Council intends that the Garden Overlay District be available to overlay on parcels of land in any existing zoning district to add the uses described in the district regulations to the list of uses allowed upon that land. The Garden Overlay District may be applied to and