HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-17 PACKET 04.J.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 3/17/10
PREPARED BY Community Development Howard Blin
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Consider approving a revision to the comprehensive plan to change the land use designation
of 19 acres of property along East Point Douglas Road at the south side of Ravine Park from
commercial to park.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the resolution approving the comprehensive plan revision.
DATE
REVIEWED
APPROVED
DENIED
® PLANNING 2122/10
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❑ PUBLIC SAFETY
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❑ PUBLIC WORKS
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❑ PARKS AND RECREATION
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❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS
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❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY
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SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
® MEMO /LETTER: Memo from Howard Blin dated 3/12/10
® RESOLUTION: Draft
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
® OTHER: Excerpt from 2122110 Planning
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
Commission Meeting Minutes
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
2010
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
MINNESOTA
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator
FROM: Howard Blin, Community Development Director
DATE: March 12, 2010
RE: Comprehensive Plan Revisions
The City Council is requested to review and provide a recommendation on a revision to the
Cottage Grove Comprehensive Plan 2030. The revision is necessary to conform to changes
required by the Metropolitan Council.
Ion ;
The 2030 Comprehensive Plan was approved by the Cottage Grove City Council in December
2008. The plan was then submitted to the Metropolitan Council for final review and approval. The
City is statutorily required to obtain the approval of the Metropolitan Council before the plan can
become effective.
The Metropolitan Council had several technical comments on the plan for which revisions have
been made. There were also two substantial comments related to land use designations. In
subsequent discussions with Metropolitan Council staff, one of the land use issues was resolved in
the City's favor. On the second, however, a revision to the previously adopted plan is necessary to
secure Metropolitan Council approval. These land use issues are described below.
raF t •
The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed revisions to the comprehensive plan at the
meeting on February 22, 2010. They unanimously recommended approval of the revision. An
excerpt from the unapproved Planning Commission minutes is attached.
Honorable Mayor, City Council, and Ryan Schroeder
Comprehensive Plan Revisions
March 12, 2010
Page 2 of 3
Lower Grey Cloud Island. The Metropolitan Council's Regional Parks Plan shows all of Lower
Grey Cloud Island as a future regional park. The City's proposed plan designates the majority of
the Island as a Transitional Planning Area, which is a holding designation until a future decision
on the appropriate land use can be made. The City's plan also shows a small area of the north
side of the island designated for Rural Residential development to conform to the existing land
use in that area.
Metropolitan Council staff initially required that the City's plan be revised to show the Rural
Residential area as a Transitional Planning Area. After several discussions, Council staff
determined that the existing designations were acceptable.
Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. Previous Cottage Grove Comprehensive Plans
designated two privately owned parcels on the south side of the park for Park and Private Open
Space. These two parcels total about 19 acres in size. This previous land use designation for
the parcels conformed to the approved master plan for the park. In the most recent plan update
the parcels were designated for Commercial development. This decision was a response by the
City that the land had yet to be acquired for park expansion.
The Metropolitan Council staff determined that with the new land use designation, the City's
plan was not in conformance with the master plan for the regional park and would result in the
City's plan being denied. As a result of this decision, a plan revision is necessary to have the
plan approved.
Honorable Mayor, City Council, and Ryan Schroeder
Comprehensive Plan Revisions
March 12, 2010
Page 3 of 3
Recommendation
That the City Council approve the comprehensive plan revision from Commercial to the Parks
and Private Open Space land use designation.
IN* Is]IILIkdRILIIZLOM'Z1S[�D:�:� 1
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A REVISION TO THE COTTAGE GROVE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2030 TO CHANGE THE LAND USE OF 19 ACRES
ALONG EAST POINT DOUGLAS ROAD AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF
RAVINE PARK FROM COMMERCIAL TO PARK AND PRIVATE OPEN SPACE
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Cottage Grove accepted the Cottage
Grove Comprehensive Plan 2030 on July 16, 2008; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council reviewed and is requiring a change to the
land use designation of 19 acres of land along East Point Douglas Road at the south
side of Ravine Park from commercial to park and private open space; and
WHEREAS, the required modifications are related to consistency with regional
park plans; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, at their meeting on February 22, 2010,
unanimously (6 -to -0) voted to recommend approval of the revision.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of Cottage
Grove, County of Washington, State of Minnesota, that the Cottage Grove
Comprehensive Plan 2030 has been revised to change the land use of 19 acres along
East Point Douglas Road at the south side of Ravine Park from commercial to park and
private open space.
Passed this 17th day of March 2010.
Myron Bailey, Mayor
Attest:
Caron M. Stransky, City Clerk
EXCERPT FROM UNAPPROVED MINUTES OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 22, 2010
7.1 Comprehensive Plan Revisions
Blin summarized the staff report, explaining that the only modification is to change the
land use of 19 acres along East Point Douglas Road at the south side of Ravine Park
from commercial to park. He recommended approval of the plan revision.
Thiede asked if changing from commercial to park designation would reduce the value
of that land. Blin responded that he has talked with two appraisers. He explained that
appraisals are based on the highest and best use of the land. Appraisers will never give
an opinion outside of an appraisal, but the sense he got from those discussions was it
probably would diminish the value. Thiede asked if the landowners could take any legal
recourse. Blin stated that he can't anticipate what they might do.
Messick asked if that was the only change that needs to be voted on. Blin responded
yes, noting that Grey Cloud Island stays as it is and the rest of the changes were tech-
nical changes.
Thiede stated his only concern would be for the value that the landowners would get for
their land. He noted that it seems the City really has no choice on the land use designa-
tion for those properties. Blin stated that staff raised that issue with the Met Council and
their response is those properties have been designated for park use for more than 20
years so there really is no change.
Thiede made a motion to recommend approval of the comprehensive plan revi-
sion to change the land use designation of 19 acres of property along East Point
Douglas Road at the south side of Ravine Park from commercial to park. Poncin
seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6 -to -0 vote).