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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4. Strategic Planning for Growth Study #'-/ CITY OF SHAKOPEE Memorandum CASE NO.: NA TO: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: R. Michael Leek, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Strategic Planning for Growth Study MEETING DATE: January 26,2004 REVIEW PERIOD: Not applicable as an application is not pending INTRODUCTION: Council is asked to provide staffwith direction regarding a possible strategic planning study for growth, possible interim measures, and several related issues. BACKGROUND: Factors Affecting the Location of Development: The City of Shakopee has experienced seven (7) straight years of rapid growth. The peak year for residential development was 1999, when permits were issued for a total of 1,105 residential units. The year 2003 was just off that record year, with permits issued for about 1,038 planned dwelling units. Absent some major, intervening force the demographics of this area coupled with the supply ofland available within the city and the adjacent townships suggest that the a long period of growth is still in store for the city. The volume of land use related cases remained high in 2003, and was as follows; 2003 CASE LOGS Conditional Use Permits Rezoning Minor Subdivisions Final Plats Preliminary Plats Text Amendments Variances Planned Unit Developments Vacations Annexation G:\CC\2004\0 1-26workshop\covermemo.doc 29 17 12 11 10 10 9 7 5 4 1 Home Occupations Determinations of BOAA Comp Plan Amendments MUSA Expansion Reguiding EAW Concept Review 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 127 Case logs The ratio of single-family and attached housing approved for development in 2003 shifted somewhat, i.e. single-family lots predominated as follows; Preliminary plats reviewed in 2003 include the following; . Boulder Hill 9 single-family (on Valley View Road) . Centex Homes 195 single-family (before the Planning Commission) . Church Addition 164 townhouses (before the Planning Commission) . Dean Lakes PUD 68 single-family and 227 townhouses . Eagle Creek Ponds 71 single-family (denied) . Riverside Meadows - 213 single-family . Southern Meadows 122 townhouses . Thomas A. Philip PUD- . Valley Park 15th Add'n. 75 single-family Commercial . Whispering Oaks 136 single-family lots (starting at $300.000) . TOTAL 767 single-family lots (60%), 513 townhouses (40%) Both the pace and quality of development (particularly of attached housing) have been ongoing concerns in the City of Shako pee. In 1999, in response to these concerns, the City Council imposed a nine-month moratorium on new plats, PUDs, and CUPs. Among the things that resulted from the moratorium was the creation of several new zoning districts, one of which (PRD) was intended to allow the creation of more completely integrated, mixed use neighborhoods. It is clear that these measures have not totally alleviated some ofthe concerns. Because the majority of relatively flat, easy to develop land in the City south of STH 169 has either been developed or is committed, it will be dealing with several significant factors including; G:\CC\2004\0 1-26workshop\covermemo.doc 2 Shako pee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Land: The SMSC either owns in fee, or occupies trust land totaling about 1000 + acres of land in the City. The majority of this land is 10fated in the south central part of the City, and its location has significant implications for the ability to plan for the development of and serve other properties surrounding those holdings. Annexation: Since Jackson Township and the City executed the orderly annexation agreement (OAA) interest in having land in the township annexed for development has accelerated. The City and Township should take a closer look at how annexations should be staged. Later in the memo, Council is asked to provide direction to staff on whether to proceed with updates to the transportation, sanitary sewer, storm water, and parks elements of the City's overall comprehensive plan. This information will be invaluable in making reasoned decisions about the staging of annexations. Natural Resources: In a sense, the last several years has seen the development of the areas ofthe City that are relatively easy. The future poses greater challenges, including the bluff areas, forested areas, greater wetland implications, and so on. It is important for the City to develop and have in place regulations that will be adequately sensitive to these areas. Existing Rural Residential Development: The existing pattern of rural residential development in the southern portion of the City surrounding CSAH 17 makes it more difficult to serve and develop those properties that might otherwise be available for development. Fiscal Concerns: In addition, staffhas had concerns about the pace of development, especially in the current, financially constrained environment. The most short-term concern has to do with the ability of city to do the best job possible reviewing development proposals, and inspecting and managing the volume of development at the current pace. The second, and longer- term concern has to do with the financial ability of the City to provide the same, or improved, levels of service to both current and new residents. Each new mile of public street, each new public park, and each new household bring new demands for equipment, maintenance, and services. With restrictions on the general levy, new development does not bring in sufficient tax revenue to assure that current levels of service (street plowing, street and park maintenance, police, fire, etc.) can be maintained. G:\CC\2004\0 1-26workshop\covermemo.doc 3 It is for all of the above reasons that staffhas initiated this discussion with the Council about taking some time out to strategically plan for the City's future growth. Supply of Buildable Lots: In early January ofthis year, senior planner Julie Klima completed a tabulation ofthe vacant lots available for development in the City. These numbers do not include the 195 single-family detached units proposed in the Centex, Park Meadows plat. That tabulation follows; 726 lots for detached, single-family houses 420 possible attached owner-occupied housing units 169 possible rental-housing units 1,315 possible housing units At 2003's pace that translates to about a 14-month supply of lots now available for residential development. APPROACHES TO A GROWTH MANAGEMENT STUDY: Suffice to say other communities have and are facing the same kinds of development pressures and planning challenges. In the early 1990's, Lakeville began to experience similar pressures and concerns. That city convened a growth management task force to study the issues and develop recommendations. During that study, a moratorium was imposed on new development. Staff has invited Scott County Community Development Director Michael Sobota, who was the director in Lakeville at the time, to provide Council with an overview of that experience. More recently, the City of Prior Lake undertook a community visioning process. Staffhas invited Mayor Jack Haugen and City Manager Frank Boyles to discuss that approach and experience. Copies of material related to both the Lakeville and Prior Lake approaches are attached for the Council's information. Should the Council choose to move forward with a task force approach, staff believes it is important that the City not be processing the same volume of new development proposals at the same time that it is trying to strategically plan for additional growth. There are a number of possible approaches that the Council could take including at least the following; . Ifthere is a particular type of development that is of special concern, suspend the approval of such developments while the study is ongoing; . During the pendency of the study, limit the allocation of new Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA). For example, because the City's ten-year allocation of MUS A was 2,186 acres, the Council could choose to allow the allocation of only 219 new acres of MUSA per year. Since the City in 2003 had already allocated almost 468 acres of MUS A (enough for 2003 and 2004) it might choose not to allocate any new MUSA in 2004). G:\CC\2004\0 1-26workshop\covermemo.doc 4 . The Council could identify specific areas where development would proceed because of significant public needs, such as for roadways. Examples may be the area around CSAH 16 and Pike Lake Road, Valley View Road at CSAH 83, and I ih Avenue. . The Council could establish an annual limit on acreage and/or dwelling units to be developed. A further step might be to have developers/builders submit proposals for development, which the City would then evaluate and rank. POSSIBLE PARTICIPANTS IN A GROWTH MANAGEMENT STUDY: Should the Council choose to move forward with a strategic planning study utilizing a task force approach, staff recommends that the task force represent a wide range of community interests including, but not necessarily limited to the following; . Neighborhood representatives (examples of which would include the First Avenue area, Southbridge, and south Dean Lake area); . Retail business interests (including the downtown, First Avenue, Southbridge Crossings, etc.) . Industrial/Business park interests; . The non-profit sector (e.g. the Rotary, Lions); . Other jurisdictions POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT DOING A STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR GROWTH STUDY: . New housing or commercial developments may continue to be seen as disappointing in quality; . Municipal service levels will decrease because the demand for service will outstrip the available resources. This may be evidenced by increased resident complaints. . Staffwill continue to be overloaded, with the result that insufficient resources will be available to both review new proposals, and manage complex, approved projects like the Dean Lakes PUD. . Mistakes could occur that may result in costly lawsuits. OTHER RELATED ISSUES: Whether the Council chooses to proceed with a strategic planning for growth study, staff would ask that the Council provide direction regarding the following; . Whether to proceed with updates to the Transportation, Sanitary Sewer, Storm Water, and Parks and Open Space chapters of the overall Comprehensive Plan. It is proposed that these would take into account a longer time frame (perhaps as far out as 2040), all of Jackson Township and Louisville Township); . Whether the City should add additional staff to handle the continuing demands ofthe current rate of development (building inspections, engineering, public works, police, etc.). G:\CC\2004\0 1-26workshop\covermemo.doc 5 ACTION REQUESTED: Provide staff with direction on the following items; 1. Whether to proceed with the formation of a task force to undertake a strategic planning for growth study, the purpose of which will be to develop recommendations to the Council for strategic management. a. Whether to seek proposals from outside consultants to facilitate the task force process. b. Provide suggestions as to persons to be invited to participate in the task force process. 2. Whether to draft an interim ordinance suspending some aspect of development activity during the pendency of the growth management task force. 3. Whether to proceed with updates to the Transportation, Sanitary Sewer, Storm Water, and Parks and Open Space chapters of the overall Comprehensive Plan. It is proposed that these would take into account a longer time frame (perhaps as far out as 2040), all of Jackson Township and Louisville Township); 4. Whether the City should add additional staff to handle the continuing demands ofthe current rate of development (building inspections, engineering, police). R. Michael Leek Community Development Director G:\CC\2004\0 1-26workshop\covermemo.doc 6