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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Report CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PLANNING REPORT CASE NUMBER: 2008-0204 DATE: February 6, 2008 TO: Columbia Heights Planning Commission APPLICANT: City of Columbia Heights LOCATION: City Wide REQUEST: Zoning Amendment for Rezoning of Parcels PREPARED BY: Jeff Sargent, City Planner INTRODUCTION At this time, City Staff is requesting a zoning amendment to create a new zoning district. The new zoning district would be titled “Public and Open Space”, and would include all land available for public use. Such uses would include: all municipal, county, and regional parks, City Hall, Murzyn Hall, Jackson Pond, Public Works and the library. Currently, the City parks are established as overlay areas throughout the City, meaning that there is an underlying zoning district for each park, be it residential, commercial or industrial. There is no consistent zoning district for each park throughout the City, making it difficult to establish continuity throughout the park system. Staff recommends creating a new zoning district so that each public parcel has the same set of standards for its use, setbacks, parking requirements and performance standards. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The Comprehensive Plan currently guides all the parks and Murzyn Hall for “Park” use. City Hall is guided for “Community Center District”, the public works building is guided for “Industrial” and the library is guided for “Commercial”. The Comprehensive Plan guidance for City Hall, the public works building and the library will be amended during the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update. ZONING ORDINANCE The following is a list of all the parks in the City and their current zoning classification. Also listed are City Hall, Murzyn Hall, the public works building, Jackson Pond, and the City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission February 6, 2008 City of Columbia Heights Case # 2008-0204 library: 1. Albert A. Kordiak Park R-1, Single Family Residential District 2. Curt Ramsdell Park R-1, Single Family Residential District 3. Edgemoor Park R-2A, One and Two Family Residential District 4. Gateway Park R-2A, One and Two Family Residential District 5. Gauvitte Park R-2A, One and Two Family Residential District 6. Hilltop Park R-2A, One and Two Family Residential District 7. Huset Park I-1, Industrial District 8. Keyes Park R-1, Single Family Residential District 9. Labelle Park R-4, Multiple Family Residential District 10. Lomianki Park I-1, Industrial District 11. McKenna Park R-1, Single Family Residential District 12. Ostrander Park R-2A, One and Two Family Residential District 13. Prestemon Park R-1, Single Family Residential District 14. Silver Lake Beach R-1, Single Family Residential District 15. Silver Lake Park R-1, Single Family Residential District 16. Sullivan Lake Park R-3, Multiple Family Residential District 17. Wargo Court CBD, Central Business District 18. City Hall R-3, Multiple Family Residential District 19. Jackson Pond R-2A, One and Two Family Residential District 20. Library LB, Limited Business District 21. Murzyn Hall I-1, Industrial District 22. Public Works I-1, Industrial District As stated previously, the creation of the Public District would place all of the above-listed into one zoning classification. The proposed district would also list all permitted, accessory and conditional uses allowed within. The total amount of land to be rezoned is approximately 164 acres. FINDINGS OF FACT Section 9.104 (F) of the Columbia Heights zoning code requires that the City Council make each of the following four findings before approving a zoning amendment: 1. The amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan currently guides all the parks and Murzyn Hall for “Park” use. City Hall is guided for “Community Center District”, the public works building is guided for “Industrial” and the library is guided for “Commercial”. The Comprehensive Plan guidance for City Hall, the public works building and the library will be amended during the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update. 2. The amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the benefit of a single property owner. Page 2 City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission February 6, 2008 City of Columbia Heights Case # 2008-0204 The City of Columbia Heights owns all the parcels that would be affected by this proposed zoning amendment. The creation of a new zoning district would make the uses of these properties more consistent with each another in terms of setbacks, parking requirements and performance standards. 3. Where the amendment is to change the zoning classification of a particular property, the existing use of the property and the zoning classification of property within the general area of the property in question are compatible with the proposed zoning classification. The proposed zoning amendment will create a new zoning district in which all the existing uses of the property to be rezoned will be compatible. 4. Where the amendment is to change the zoning classification of a particular property, there has been a change in the character or trend of development in the general area of the property in question, which has taken place since such property was placed in the current zoning classification. The purpose of the zoning amendment is to create a zoning district for all the public uses throughout the City. Doing so would make the uses, setbacks and performance standards for the parks and other public uses consistent with one another. RECOMMENDATION Motion: That the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the creation of the “Public District”, which would include all municipal, county, and regional parks, City Hall, Murzyn Hall, Jackson Pond, Public Works, and the library, as depicted on the attached zoning map. Attachments Draft Rezoning Ordinance  Current Zoning Map  Proposed Zoning Map  Page 3