Title
Requesting that the Planning Commission conduct a West Grand Avenue zoning study, and instituting a moratorium on certain development in the study area.
Body
WHEREAS, under the Land Use Chapter of the City's Comprehensive Plan, the 2030 generalized Land Use Map identifies the west end of Grand Avenue as a "Residential Corridor" which, the Plan explains, is composed of "segments of street corridors that run through Established Neighborhoods, predominantly characterized by medium density residential uses;" and
WHEREAS, the Land Use Chapter characterizes Established Neighborhoods as areas with a range of housing types, predominantly single-family houses and duplexes, as well as scattered small scale multi-family housing; and
WHEREAS, Strategy 1 of the Land Use Chapter, to target growth to areas where there will be compact mixed-use communities where housing, employment, amenities, and transit can work synergistically to serve the needs of people who live and work there, states that its "core goal" is "higher density development," a purpose of which is to achieve the 2030 residential growth targets established for the City by the Metropolitan Council; and
WHEREAS, Strategy 1 of the Land Use Chapter specifically intends for development to take place "at densities greater than currently found in the community," and states that "higher density development is not an objective sought solely for itself," but to "contribute to the goal of creating a vibrant, economically strong community that is environmentally sustainable; and
WHEREAS, Established Neighborhoods are described in the Land Use Chapter as areas of stability where the existing character will be essentially maintained," and Strategy 1 provides that the "existing zoning standards, as well as new zoning standards and districts, will be used to support the prevailing character of Established Neighborhoods and to allow higher density in . . . Residential Corridors;" and
WHEREAS, the Council of th...
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