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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.
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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
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