CCP 07242023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

36 the City has broad discretion in making land use decisions based on advancing the health, safety, and 37 general welfare of the community. However, because the Minnesota Legislature passed requirements 38 for Sacred Communities and Micro-Unit Dwellings (see Attachment 3), at the advice of the City 39 Attorney, the City should not use the Interim Use process to impose conditions more restrictive than 40 those that will go into effect on January 1, 2024. As such, the broad discretion typically provided 41 through an Interim Use review process is extremely limited with this application. 42 43 Background 44 Sometime in December of 2022, two mobile residential dwelling units (hereinafter referred to as 45 “micro-unit dwellings”) were placed on the 2.25-acre vacant parcel addressed 2555 Victoria Street N 46 immediately south, and in common ownership of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church located at 2561 47 Victoria Street N. 48 49 A “micro-unit”, as defined in the recently adopted legislation means a mobile residential dwelling 50 providing permanent housing within a “sacred community”. A “sacred community”, as defined in 51 the recently adopted legislation (and which Prince of Peace has established), is defined as a 52 residential settlement established on or contiguous to the grounds of a religious institution’s primary 53 worship location primarily for the purpose of providing permanent housing for chronically homeless 54 persons, extremely low-income persons, and designated volunteers. 55 56 The City of Roseville determined the micro-unit dwellings were prohibited under current City Code 57 and on February 1, 2023 and sent a letter notifying Prince of Peace of the staff determination the 58 units were not legal dwelling units under certain City Code and Zoning Code standards (see 59 Attachment 4). Prince of Peace appealed the staff determination and on March 6, 2023, the City 60 Council, acting as the Board of Adjustments and Appeals, held a public meeting on the appeal and 61 upheld the staff determination. 62 63 During this same time frame, the Minnesota State Legislature was considering legislation that would 64 require cities to allow such units and would establish statewide standards for sacred communities 65 and micro-unit dwellings. The legislation has since been adopted and becomes effective January 1, 66 2024. However, the Roseville City Council, in approving their resolution regarding the 67 determination of non-compliance, required Prince of Peace to obtain an approved Interim Use (IU) 68 to regulate the micro-unit dwellings through the end of the year. 69 70 Review of Request 71 In support of their request, Prince of Peace has provided a number of documents, which are found as 72 Attachment 5. Planning Division staff examined the following applicable and relevant issues related 73 to the Interim Use: 74 75# of Units 76 Prince of Peace has installed two micro-unit dwellings. One is occupied by a person who is 77 considered chronically homeless. The other is occupied by persons who are fulfilling the 78 “designated volunteer” role. The term “designated volunteer” is defined in the Sacred Communities 79 and Micro-Unit Dwelling legislation and means persons who have not experienced homelessness 80 and have been approved by the religious institution to live in a sacred community as their sole form 81 of housing. Staff would note that in order to fully comply with the newly adopted State law, a third 82 micro-unit dwelling will have to be added to the site come January 1, 2024. This is because the law 83 says a sacred community must “have between one-third and 40 percent of the micro units occupied 84 by designated volunteers”. With only two units, one-half and 50 percent are occupied by designated Page 2 of 6 Qbhf!25!pg!377