HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-25 PACKET 08.2.A.MmCottage
Grove
here Pride and?cOsperity Meet
To: Planning Commission
From: Christine Costello, Acting Community & Economic Development Director
Date: November 21, 2019
Subject: Response to Planning Commission Inquiry
At the October 28, 2019, Planning Commission meeting, Chair Khambata requested information
on how housing density is calculated. To answer this question, it is important to also explain why
a community calculates housing density and its purpose related to our comprehensive plan.
The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning agency charged with planning and coordinat-
ing the growth and development of the seven -county metropolitan area. The Metropolitan Coun-
cil does this through requiring communities to update their comprehensive plan every 10 years.
The comprehensive plan represents our vision of how Cottage Grove wants to grow and change
— how land will develop, ensuring adequate housing, providing roads and sewers, protecting
natural areas, and meeting other community objectives.
To plan for growth and change, the City uses density calculations to forecast growth and plan
for infrastructure needs. Housing density is defined by how many housing units are in a devel-
opment for designated housing — dwelling units per acre (du/acre). The comprehensive plan es-
tablishes minimum and maximum densities for a residential land use. For example, single-family
development or low density residential development in Cottage Grove guides the land use as 1
to 4 units per acre. The land use designations and densities listed in the comprehensive plan
are what is used to guide future development densities.
Housing density is calculated as the number of dwelling units per acre based on the gross lot
area prior to the dedication of any right-of-way, public parks, or other public areas. Sometimes
when a project encompasses more than one lot, the density is averaged over the entire project
site; this is done for larger residential developments such as Calarosa, Grayson Meadows,
Summers Landing, and Bailey Woods. Below is an example:
Bailey Woods:
Site prior to the dedication of right-of-way, parks, etc.
41 dwellings units / 19.94 acres = 2.06 units/acre
Site after the dedication of right-of-way, parks, etc.
41 dwelling units / 17.40 acres = 2.36 units/acre
Housing density calculations are a foundation of the comprehensive plan. It ensures that we are
accommodating our forecasted growth and infrastructure.