Planning Report

Date:	June 19, 2001

Case:	R 01-01

Subject:	Rezoning of the Lake Jones Apartment Property at 219-221 Old Highway 8 SW from R-3A to R-3B.

Applicant:	City of New Brighton

Request & Background

To consider rezoning the Lake Jones Apartment property at 219-221 Old Highway 8 SW from R-3A to R-3B. The purpose of the request is to bring the site into compliance with the conclusions of the Moratorium placed on multi-family residential development.

R-3A allows apartment buildings, whereas the R-3B zone does not. The conclusions reached by the City Council during the moratorium was that New Brighton needs additional design standards for Multi-family residential development, has an abundance of affordable apartment homes, and has a shortage of townhomes and above market-rate apartments with high amenities.

An appraiser's office, located at 321 Old Highway 8 SW was listed as a proposal to be rezoned in the Public Hearing; subsequent research by Staff showed that this property is already zoned R-3B. Staff believes that all or a portion of the parcel at 219-221 Old Highway 8 SW could combine with the appraisal office site for townhome development.

Findings

Section 8-310, Rezoning

Site Characteristics

1.	Location:	219 Old Highway 8 NW

2.	Existing Lot Size:	The site is 5.57 acres in size

3.	Topography:	Descending slope toward Jones Lake wetlands and ascending slope to the south rising steeply to adjacent property.

4.	Comprehensive Plan Designation:	Multiple Family Residential

5.	Zoning:	R-3A

6.	Proposed Zoning:	R-3B

7.	Surrounding Land Uses:

North:	Small businesses - Zoned I-1, Light Industrial

South:	Business (Appraisal Office) - Zoned R-3B

East:	Jones Lake

West:	Small businesses - Zoned I-1, Light Industrial

Site History

1.	Past Uses:	Multiple Family Residential

2.	Historical Significance:	None.

Staff Comments

Multi-family Moratorium

In May 2000, the New Brighton City Council placed a moratorium on multi-family housing development pending study of the housing needs in the City.

As a result of the moratorium, Staff found that there was an adequate amount of affordable rental units, but there was a shortage of above market-rate rental and townhome housing stock.

Staff developed Design Guidelines, which were approved by the City Council, published and subsequently adopted by the City.

Additional analysis found that townhomes would be a better type of residential arrangement for the Lake Jones site.

The proposal is to rezone from R-3A to R-3B, and the City, through the Moratorium, is looking for more townhome opportunities in the City. Within Zoning Code Section 4-410, "Townhouses" is a listed permitted use in an R-3B District; within the current R-3A zoning designation, townhomes are also a permitted use; however, "apartments" drops out of the R-3B district, thereby making the site more specifically designed for townhomes than the existing R-3A.

R-3B is more specifically designed for townhomes. Rezoning this property with implementing some of the conclusions of the moratorium process.

Recommendation

Approval

Motion to recommend approval of R 01-01, rezoning the subject property from R-3A to R-3B.

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends approval of the rezoning. The proposed rezoning is consistent with the City's adopted Comprehensive Plan, goals of the Old Highway 8 Corridor Study, and conclusions reached during the multi-family housing moratorium process.

Patrick Boylan, Intermediate City Planner