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9 4.0 BACKGROUND <br />3o 4.1 The Ramsey County Library was constructed in 1993 as a permitted use within the Single <br />31 Family Residential zone. In 1996 the library site received a Planned Unit Development <br />32, to allow the Dunn Brothers Coffee shop and drive thru on the south side of the building. <br />33 The Planning Staff has completed a historical record review to determine whether other <br />34 formal approvals were granted to the Library and have found none <br />35 4�.2 The proposal by Ramsey County will not include the combination of the 12 parcels that <br />36 comprise the site into one large lot, thus the parking improvements will be constructed <br />3 7' over numerous property lines (lines created prior to the requirement of easements). For <br />38 this reason,, the Planning Division has concluded that it is in the best interest of Ramsey <br />39 County to proceed through the two step Planned Unit Development process,, thus creating <br />40 a set of terms and conditions under which the addition and site improvements will occur. <br />5.0 REVIEW OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN <br />42, 5.1 The property on which the library sits has an existing Land Use designation of <br />43 Institutional,, which supports libraries and other similar uses. The 8 single-family zoned <br />44, lots that Ramsey County acquired and/or previously owned north of the library have an <br />45 existing Land Use designation of Low Density (2), and Medium Density (5), Residential, <br />46 which does not support libraries. The proposal is to change the 8 lots to be consistent <br />4`7 with the existing library use from Low Density and Medium Density to Institutional (see <br />48 Attachments I and J) . <br />49 5.2 Currently the 8 lots have a zoning of Single Family Residential which is inconsistent with <br />50 the current Land Use Designation of Medium Density Residential. Planning Staff is of <br />51 the opinion that it is in the City's best interest to change the land use designation to <br />52, Institutional to be consistent with the end use rather than to Low Density Residential, a <br />53 designation supported by the current zoning designation and one that permits <br />54 low/medium impact public uses. <br />55 6.0 REVIEW OF ZONING/PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT <br />56 6.1 The GENERAL CONCEPT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT is a process by which a <br />5 7 development/redevelopment proposal is formally presented in a public hearing in front of <br />58 the Planning Commission for consideration. A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (P D), is <br />59 an overlay zoning district which may include single or mixed uses on one or more lots or <br />60 parcels, and is intended to be used in unique situations to create a more flexible, creative, <br />61 and efficient approach to the use of the land subject to the procedures, standards, and <br />62, regulations contained in the City Code. <br />63 6.2 On September 9, 1996, the City Council approved Ordinance 1170 which rezoned the <br />64 existing library site from Single Family Residence District (R-1), to Planned Unit <br />65 Development (PUD)1 . However,, a review of the approved ordinance and P Agreement <br />66 concluded that Planned Unit Development was established as a specific zoning district <br />6 7' and NOT as an overlay district as is the current method. <br />68 6.3 A review of both current zoning and the requirements to have an overlay zone and <br />69 underlying zone, concludes that Single Family Residence District is an inappropriate <br />70 underlying designation for the library and its proposed improvements. <br />PF108-030RCA082508 (3).doc <br />Page 2 of 6 <br />