5.2. PCSR 05-13-2008~i
city or
Elk.
River
REQUEST FOR ACTION
To Item Number
Plannin Commission 5.2
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Plannin .Items Ma 13, 2008 Sheila Cartne ,Senior Planner
Item Description Reviewed by
Request by City of Elk River for an Ordinance Amendment to erem Barnhart, Plannin Mana er
prohibit flag lots Case file# OA08-04 Public Hearing Reviewed by
Action Requested
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the ordinance as drafted
prohibiting flag lots.
Background/Discussion
At the February 19, 2008 City Council meeting, an Administrative Subdivision proposal was approved
with a "flag lot" design. Members of the Council had voiced some concern with this practice.
At the March 10, 2008 Council Workshop, staff presented information regarding flag lots which included
definitions and requested direction from the Council on an ordinance. Council directed staff to prepare
an ordinance for review prohibiting flag lots. At the same time, Council implemented a moratorium on
flag lots for six months.
Attachments
• Draft ordinance
Case File: OA 08-04
Page 2
Overview
From a planning prospective, the concerns with flag lots are:
• Access
• Odd shaped parcels
• Disruptive in neighborhood setting
• Property line disputes
• Future infrastructure problems
Flag Lot Ordinance
City of Elk River
Should the Council choose to prohibit flag lots, the Council may consider the attached ordinance.
If the Ordinance is deemed acceptable, the council could choose to lift the moratorium.
Action Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
S:\PLANNING MAIN\Case Files\OA\OA 08-04 flag lots\PC.doc
ORDINANCE 08 -
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER AMENDING
SECTION 30-1 "DEFINITIONS" OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
Case No. OA 08-04
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. Section 30-1 titled "Definitions" of the City of Elk River Code of Ordinances shall be
amended by adding the following:
Flag Lot: means a lot so shaped and designed that the main building site area is set back
from the street on which it fronts and includes an access strip connection the main building
site with the frontage street.
Section 30-XX new regulation: Flag lots are prohibited
Section 2. That this ordinance shall take effect upon publication as provided by law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 19th day of
May, 2008.
Attest:
Stephanie Klinzing
Mayor
Tina Allard
City Clerk