7.b i) Report on Ordinance 196 amending the Development Code
Memorandum
To: Scandia City Council Reference: VMU B Zoning District Zoning
Amendment
Copies To: Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Project No.: 16623.000
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP,
Planner
Routing:
Date: April 9, 2018
The City’s EDA and the City Council requested that the Planning Commission review the uses
and lot standards in the VMU B Zoning District. The EDA and Council requested that the
Planning Commission consider whether there are options that would allow businesses in the
VMU B District to have an ownership position that would give them more independence and site
control, and support economic growth in the Village area, and to consider if zoning changes are
needed to permit the options.
Some options for discussion that could give businesses more options or flexibility include:
Commercial condominium ownership
PUDs
Changes to the VMU B District—change in district boundaries, uses, smaller lot sizes or
other changes to the standards for the VMU B
The Commission reviewed these options and recommended the following at its March meeting:
Commercial condominiums are a good option. No City ordinance or regulation changes
are needed to accommodate this option.
PUD’s are also a good option – The Commission recommended that the Development
Code be updated to include PUD’s as a use that is permitted with a CUP in the VMU A
and VMU B zoning districts. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the
proposed amendment to add PUD’s as a permitted use with a CUP in the VMU A and B
Districts at their meeting on April 3.
Changes to the VMU B Zoning District to permit smaller lot sizes --The Commission
requested that the EDA review the option to permit smaller lot sizes in all or part of the
VMU-B District if community septic systems and shared parking or other parking options
made this feasible. The EDA’s discussion and recommendation, with approaches for the
PC to consider are discussed in the next sections.
VMU District Amendment to Code Page 2 April 17, 2018
Scandia Planning Commission
EDA Discussion and Recommendations for the VMU B District
The EDA Board discussed the Planning Commission request that the Board provide input on
potential changes to the lot sizes in the Village Mixed Use – B zoning district.
The EDA Board noted that commercial condominiums are currently an option
The EDA Board was supportive of the change that would allow for planned unit
developments to be added as a conditional use in the VMU-B zoning district.
The EDA Board discussed the issues related to changes in the minimum lot size noted
that a change may be appropriate if the lot was served by a centralized sanitary sewer
system, and that the update of the comprehensive plan should provide for areas that
could permits smaller lots. The Board recommended that given the condominium and
PUD options no changes to lot size are needed at this time.
Chris Eng from the County CDA was at the meeting, and noted that he has received a number
of inquiries regarding locations for places for 3-5,000 square-foot commercial buildings. These
don’t make sense on 2.5 acres parcels unless a developer is proposing a commercial
condominium or PUD.
Planning Commission Public Hearing and Recommendations
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance amendment at their
meeting on April 3. The Commission received no verbal or written comments on the
amendment.
The Commission recommended that the City Council approve the amendment to the
Development Code to permit PUDs as a conditional use in the VMU A and VMU B
districts (attached), and
The Commission recommended adding an Action Step in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan
to review the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map and update them to include areas for
smaller lot sizes or other new dimensional standards for the VMU B District to support
economic development.