7.1 SR 11-18-2024The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community
engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
Request for Action
To
City Council
Item Number
7.1
Meeting Date
November 18, 2024
Prepared By
Chris Leeseberg, Senior Planner
Item Description
Ordinance 24-22, 24-23 and 24-24 Zone Changes:
City of Elk River
Reviewed by
Zack Carlton
Cal Portner
Tina Allard
Action Requested
1. Adopt, by motion, Ordinance 24-22 to rezone certain property from Highway Commercial (C3) to Single
Family Residential (R1-c) as the rezoning is consistent with the City of Elk River Land Use Plan adopted as
part of the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan.
2. Adopt, by motion, Ordinance 24-23 to rezone certain property from General Industrial (I3) to Highway
Commercial (C3) as the rezoning is consistent with the City of Elk River Land Use Plan adopted as part of the
City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan.
3. Adopt, by motion, Ordinance 24-24 to rezone certain property from General Industrial (I3) to Single Family
Residential (R1a) last the rezoning is consistent with the City of Elk River Land Use Plan adopted as part of
the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan.
Background/Discussion
The Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the City Council in October 2021, includes a Land Use map that guides
appropriate zoning for properties. The current zoning of several properties does not align with their
designated land uses and ensures consistency with the approved plan. Minnesota statutes state that the zoning
of a parcel should follow the adopted Comprehensive Plan.
The following three areas have zoning classifications that do not match the approved Land Use Plan:
• North of Highway 10 at the Gary Street alignment: This area is designated for Traditional
Single-Family Residential but is currently zoned Highway Commercial (C3). Staff recommends rezoning
it to Single Family Residential (R1-c), matching the zoning of the nearby Cove on Lake Orono
development.
• South of the Plants and Things Recreation Complex: The formerly named Youth Athletic
Complex (YAC) land is designated for Industrial use and is currently zoned General Industrial (I3).
However, the area proposed for rezoning is parkland. To support its use as a park, staff recommends
rezoning it to Single Family Residential (R1a). Additionally, the land use designation will need to be
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amended in the future to Rural Residential.
• South of Highway 10 and west of Edison Street: This area is designated as Highway Business but
is currently zoned General Industrial (I3). Staff recommends rezoning it to Highway Commercial (C3)
to align with its land use designation.
Planning Commission
During the commission meeting, several individuals spoke regarding the Highway 10 and Gary Street area,
expressing their opposition to the development of "Boy Scout Island" for residential homes and thinking it
should not be rezoned as residential. Their concerns included the negative aesthetic impact of removing trees,
the potential effects on the lake, and the desire to maintain the view of trees from their properties. They
stated that rezoning could indicate to developers that the city is open to residential development.
Staff clarified that the request was solely for a zoning change to match the Land Use designation, as required,
and that no development of the parcels in question is proposed. Staff also noted that the "Boy Scout Island"
area falls within FEMA's Flood Plain and cannot be developed; if it were possible to develop, the existing
Highway Commercial zoning would permit uses such as a restaurant or gas station.
The commission had no concerns with the request and unanimously recommended approval of all three
zoning changes.
Financial Impact
None
Mission/Policy/Goal
Ethical, efficient, and responsible
Attachments
1. Ordinance 24-22
2. Ordinance 24-23
3. Ordinance 24-24
4. 7.1 Presentation
Page 69 of 204
Ordinance 24-22
An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Map of the City of Elk River, Minnesota, to
Rezone Certain Property from Highway Commercial (C3) to Single Family
Residential (R1-c)
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. That the duly adopted Zoning Map of the City of Elk River is hereby amended to
rezone the property described on attached Exhibit A to Single Family Residential (R1-c)
SECTION 2. That the rezoning approved by this Ordinance is based on the following findings:
1.The rezoning is consistent with the City of Elk River Land Use Plan adopted as
part of the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and be published as provided by
law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 18th day of November, 2024.
______________________________
John J. Dietz, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Page 70 of 204
Exhibit A
Page 71 of 204
Ordinance 24-23
An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Map of the City of Elk River, Minnesota, to
Rezone Certain Property from General Industrial (I3) to Highway Commercial
(C3)
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. That the duly adopted Zoning Map of the City of Elk River is hereby amended to
rezone the property described on attached Exhibit A to Highway Commercial (C3).
SECTION 2. That the rezoning approved by this Ordinance is based on the following findings:
1.The rezoning is consistent with the City of Elk River Land Use Plan adopted as
part of the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and be published as provided by
law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 18th day of November, 2024.
______________________________
John J. Dietz, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Page 72 of 204
Exhibit A
Page 73 of 204
Ordinance 24-24
An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Map of the City of Elk River, Minnesota, to
Rezone Certain Property from General Industrial (I3) to Single Family Residential
(R1a)
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. That the duly adopted Zoning Map of the City of Elk River is hereby amended to
rezone the property described on attached Exhibit A to Single Family Residential (R1a).
SECTION 2. That the rezoning approved by this Ordinance is based on the following findings:
1.The rezoning is consistent with the City of Elk River Land Use Plan adopted as
part of the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and be published as provided by
law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 18th day of November, 2024.
______________________________
John J. Dietz, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Page 74 of 204
Exhibit A
Page 75 of 204
City of Elk River
Zone Change
Page 76 of 204
Background
§Reviewing three areas of the city
§Current Zoning of several properties do not align with
their designated Land Use
§Land Use = High Level Classification
§“Residential”
§Zoning = Detailed Classification
§R1a or R1c
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Hwy 10 at Gary Circle
§Currently zoned C-3 (Highway Commercial)
§Guided Residential (Land Use)
§Recommending
§R1-c (Single Family Residential)
§Same as The Cove
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The
Cove
Page 79 of 204
The
Cove
Page 80 of 204
Public Comments
§A couple property owners oppose the zone change to
Residential
§Clarified what Commercial uses are allowed today
§6/10 parcels are residential
§Regardless of zoning – cannot be developed
§In Floodway
§Island
§Parcel sizes/setbacks
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Page 82 of 204
Hwy 10 at Edison
§Currently zoned I-3 (General Industrial)
§Guided Highway Business (Land Use)
§Recommending
§C-3 (Highway Commercial)
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Page 84 of 204
Page 85 of 204
Public Comments
§Affect taxes?
§No – based on use, not zoning
Page 86 of 204
South of Plants & Things Recreation Complex
§Currently zoned I-3 (General Industrial)
§Guided Residential (Land Use)
§Recommending
§R1-a (Single Family Residential)
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Page 88 of 204
Page 89 of 204
Planning Commission Meeting
§Staff clarified request is solely for a zone change
§To match the Land Use designation
§No development is proposed
§Island falls within FEMA’s Flood Plain
§PC had no concerns with the request
§Unanimously recommended approval of all 3
Page 90 of 204
Action Requested
§Three actions will be required
Page 91 of 204
Action
1.Adopt, by motion, Ordinance 24-22
§To rezone certain property from Highway
Commercial (C3) to Single Family Residential (R1-
c)
2.Adopt, by motion, Ordinance 24-23
§To rezone certain property from General Industrial
(I3) to Highway Commercial (C3)
3.Adopt, by motion, Ordinance 24-24
§To rezone certain property from General Industrial
(I3) to Single Family Residential (R1a)
As the rezonings are consistent with the city’s Land Use
Plan adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan
Page 92 of 204
The
Cove
Page 93 of 204
The
Cove
Page 94 of 204
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