5.12. PCSR 08-23-2005
Item # 5.12.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
Planning Commission
Michele MCPhers&;ector of Planning
DATE:
August 23, 2005
SUBJECT:
Case No. OA 05- 13
Request by the City of Elk River for an Ordinance Amendment
to Section 30- 1 to Amend the Definition of Lot Area
Request
The Planning Commission is asked to consider an amendment to the lot area deftnition to
require one acre of contiguous buildable area on lots in the Ria and A1 zoning district.
Background
Chapter 30 - Land Development Regulations, deftnes Buildable Area as:
Buildable land area means the gross land area less the unbuildable land area that
includes floodways, hydric and restrictive soils, land with slopes over 33 percent,
wetlands and areas that cannot accommodate septic systems.
and Lot Area is currently deftned as:
Lot area. In R-1a unsewered and A-1 zoning districts, lot area means the horizontal
land area within the lot lines but not including any land within a public right-of-way
or any area occupied by rivers, streams, lakes or any area one acre or larger and
classifted as u.s. Army Corps of Engineers type 3, 4, or 5 wetlands, as described in
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pamphlet entitled "10 Important Questions," U.S.
Government Printing Offtce No. 1979-768-929. In all other zoning districts, lot area
means the horizontal land area within the lot lines, but not including any land within
a public right-of-way or any area occupied by rivers, streams, lakes or any area
classifted as a u.s. Army Corps of Engineers type 3, 4 or 5 wetland.
Planning Department Mission: the orderly development of a livable and sustainable Elk River community.
Planning Commission/OA 05-13
Page 2
Analysis
As the City begins to transition the area north of County Road 33 from ten-acre to 2 Yz-acre
lot minimums, it will begin to experience development of properties with significant site
constraints such as wetlands and floodplains. To ensure that there is adequate area on any
given lot to support a dwelling and septic system, staff suggest that the lot area definition be
amended to require one acre of contiguous buildable area. The lot area definition would be
revised to the following:
Lot area. In R-la unsewered and A-l zoning districts, lot area means the horizontal
land area within the lot lines but not including any land within a public right-of-way
or any area occupied by rivers, streams, or lakes. O! any area one acre or larger and
classified as u.s. }...rmT Corps of Engineers type 3, 1, or 5 wetlands, as described in
the u.s. .L'\rmy Corps of Engmeers pampWet entitled "10 Important Questions," U.S.
Co-;ernment Printing Office No. 1979 768929. The buildable area shall be
contiguous and shall be a minimum of one acre in area. In all other zoning districts,
lot area means the horizontal land area within the lot lines, but not including any land
within a public right-of-way or any area occupied by rivers, streams, or lakes. er-ftfiY
area cla3sified as a u.s. Army Corps of Enginee!3 type 3, 1 or 5 ~.etland.
The proposed language change eliminates the reference to wetlands and includes a
requirement for one acre of contiguous buildable area.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the ordinance
amendment to the City Council.
S:\pLANNING\Case Files\2005\OA 05-13 Lot Area\08 23 05 PC memo. doc