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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKmart Comp Plan Amend Memo Aug 2003 Mayor Julienne Wyckoff Councilmembers Bruce Nawrocki Bruce Kelzenberg Tammera Ericson Bobby Williams City Manager Walter R. Fehst CDD OMMUNITY EVELOPMENT EPARTMENT Date: July 18, 2003 To: Planning and Zoning Commission From: Tim Johnson, City Planner Re: Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment of Kmart Redevelopment Project Area. The now vacant Kmart property on Central Avenue NE has been proposed to be developed into a mixed-use site including medium to high-density residential, and a new commercial component. As the Planning Commission is aware, the property is being purchased by Nedegaard Custom Homes. The Commission is also aware that a planning process to determine what could be built and supported to achieve community buy-in, is also in the process and should be completed shortly. The current Comprehensive Plan guide for the Kmart Redevelopment Project Area (see attached map) is deemed strictly commercial. As part of the planning process, it was determined that Transit-Oriented Mixed-Use Development was the most appropriate category to guide the future development of this site. This category currently exists in various nodes of Columbia Heights to precipitate this type of development. Transit-Oriented Development Districts occur in areas along existing transit routes, and focus on the commuting needs of Columbia Heights residents. A new Mixed-Use project will provide new opportunities for high-density residential along with service- oriented commercial/retail development. The proposed project makes this future land use category a perfect fit for the redevelopment of this site. The City will submit a future land use change to the Metropolitan Council, that would change the future status from Commercial to Transit-Oriented Development in anticipation of the proposed redevelopment of the Kmart site. Recommended Motion: Move to support the submittal of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the future land use designation from Commercial to Transit-Oriented Development, and recommend approval of this amendment to the Columbia Heights City Council. Attachments: City Map of property; Comp Plan section