9.b1 Final Community Survey for Zoning Code Update
City of Scandia – Zoning & Development Code Update
1
MEMO
To: Mayor, Members of the City Council
From: Julia Paulsen Mullin, Swanson Haskamp Consulting
CC: Jennifer Haskamp, AICP, Swanson Haskamp Consulting
Date: October 16, 2020
RE: Revised Issue Identification Community Survey
Zoning & Development Code Update Project
Thank you for your detailed input on the Issue Identification Survey at the City Council work session on
October 7, 2020. The survey is now ready for release. We incorporated the majority of your comments into
this final draft. There are a few questions that we did not substantially revise because they are tailored to
solicit the specific information we need to effectively revise the Scandia Zoning Ordinance. These questions
are detailed below.
1. In Question 5 we removed reference to the “Village Center” so that there would be no confusion about
the Zoning districts and their meaning. With this change, the survey makes no reference to specific zoning
districts so there is no need for responders to have prior information about them. This survey is meant to
identify issues with the Ordinance. Future engagement with the community will gather information about
specific zoning districts and their standards.
2. In Question 6 we kept the “yes/no” response. We want to know whether community members have used
the Zoning Ordinance. An open-ended question alone does not get us the information we need.
3. We removed the Question about Design Guidelines. (This was Question 16 in the draft you reviewed.) The
purpose of this question was to understand how broadly across the City the community wants the Design
Guidelines to apply. In the conversation at the Council meeting it was clear that these Guidelines are intended
to apply to the mixed-use areas of Scandia. As we move along in this process, we will develop
recommendations for how the Guidelines can be best incorporated into the Ordinance.
4. We changed the presentation of the Land Use map which is required for Questions 16-25 so that the land
use categories are easier to read. These questions ask responders about specific areas of the city and their
responses will inform how we develop zoning district-specific recommendations.
Next Steps
A PDF of the final survey is attached. The survey will be launched on Monday. We look forward to the
Scandia community’s responses; they will help us develop a set of recommended Ordinance revisions that
reflect community interests and will result in an effective tool for elected officials and city staff.
Attachment: PDF of final survey
DEMOGRAPHICS & GENERAL PREFERENCES
This survey is anonymous. We want to make sure we hear from residents and businesses in all areas
of the community, and the following questions will help us ensure we accomplish that goal. Please tell
us a little about yourself. The survey should take you approximately 15 minutes to complete.
1. Please select which best describes you (select one):
I live in Scandia, and I work outside of the City
I live in Scandia, and I am not employed
I live in Scandia, and I work at a business in Scandia outside
my home
I live in Scandia, and I work from home
I work in Scandia, and I do not live here.
Other (please specify)
2. If you answered that you work from home, please select what best describes your situation:
I began working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most likely I will return to my workplace at some time in the future.
I began working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but likely I will continue to work from home after the pandemic ends.
I have always worked from home.
3. If you live in Scandia, please select what most closely describes your neighborhood:
I live on an agricultural property (large acreage, hobby farm,
commercial farm, etc.)
I live in a rural residential area where lots are approximately 5-
10 acres, I do not live on a lake.
I live in a rural residential area where lots are approximately 1-
5 acres, I do not live on a lake.
I live on lakefront property and lots are irregular in size.
I live in or near the Village Center, I consider my neighborhood
the Village.
4. If you live in Scandia, how long have you lived here?
Strongly Disagree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree
Zoning in the City makes
sense, the right land
uses are in the right
places.
I don't care about the
uses in a building, I care
about how it looks.
We have a good mix of
housing in the City.
My favorite area in the
City is my
home/property.
It is important for me to
have flexibility on how I
use my property.
It is important to follow
the City Code of
Ordinances consistently.
5. The following statements are a mix of topics that are purposefully broad. Think about your preferences and
select the response that most closely aligns with your thoughts.
ZONING & CODE ENFORCEMENT
The following questions address the City's zoning and development code and the enforcement of its
code.
6. Have you ever used the City's zoning and development code to understand what you can do with your
property?
Yes
No
7. If you answered YES, did you find the information you were looking for? Was it easy or difficult to use?
Please describe.
8. Properties in my neighborhood are well maintained and I believe they follow the City Code.
Strongly Disagree Some are, Some are not Strongly Agree
9. If you were concerned that a neighbor was doing something on their property that was not allowed, would
you feel comfortable calling the City and filing a complaint?
Yes
No
10. If you answered "YES", would you be confident that the City would take action? Please explain. If you've
filed a complaint in the past, please describe your experience.
Other (please specify)
11. The following list represents common complaints people have about properties in their neighborhoods.
Please select your top three concerns from the list (you may choose fewer than 3).
Outdoor Storage
Noise related to business (e.g., trucks, visitors, etc.)
Parking (not enough, location, etc.)
Outdoor lighting
Size of accessory buildings (e.g. garages and sheds)
Use of accessory buildings
Number of accessory buildings
Landscape maintenance (grass is too long, not well
maintained, etc.)
Snow removal
Home-based businesses
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Please think about land use and zoning when answering the following questions. We want to
understand your perspective about how your neighborhood looks - so head out for a walk and look
around if you need to! In the following questions please think about where you live and your
neighborhood - we'll get to your thoughts on the whole City in the next section.
12. I like the way my neighborhood looks. The houses are in the right place and the lots are the right size.
Houses and accessory buildings (e.g. garages and sheds) are setback appropriately from property lines. The
amount of accessory building square footage and number of buildings allowed feel right.
Strongly Disagree
Neutral (Mix of good and
bad)Strongly Agree
Why?
13. Should there be limitations on the number, size and uses of accessory buildings (e.g. garages, sheds) on
properties in your neighborhood?
Yes
No
14. Is it important for the use of properties in your neighborhood to be controlled or limited? Or is the use of a
building not important as long as the feel of the neighborhood doesn't change?
15. What is your greatest concern about how your neighborhood looks? (Think about the houses, lots, how
buildings are used, home occupations, accessory buildings, landscaping, etc.)
COMMUNITY
There is a diverse mix of uses and neighborhoods in Scandia. The following map is the adopted
Planned Land Use map from the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. It describes the planned (future) land uses
for the City. Reference the map to help you answer the following questions.
2040 Future Land Use Map
16. The General Rural areas of the community help define the rural character of the City. Property owners
should be given extensive flexibility to do what they want with their property as long as they don't interfere with
their neighbors' enjoyment of their property.
Strongly disagree
Neutral, there should be
flexibility but also some
rules Strongly Agree
17. In the General Rural land use area, there are some properties that are much smaller in size, for example
the properties with lake frontage, but they must follow the same standards as larger parcels in the same land
use. Should these smaller properties have different standards than larger properties when they are in the
same land use category? (Note - Shoreland Overlay regulations will apply to all lakefront property regardless
of size.)
Yes
No
18. If you answered "YES" to the previous question, what types of standards would you like to see for smaller
properties in the General Rural areas?
Strongly Disagree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree
This is my favorite area
in the City, it defines the
character of Scandia.
We have a good mix of
businesses in the
Village Mixed Use area.
I would like to see more
multi-family uses in this
area.
It is important for this
area to be walkable and
bikeable
This is the most
important area of the
City to have design
(architectural)
standards.
I don't care about the
uses in a building, I care
about how it looks.
19. Please rate the following statements about the Village Mixed Use area of the community.
20. On the following continuum, please identify your thoughts about the Village Mixed Use area:
I like it just the way it is.
I like parts of it, but I would
like a little more diversity of
businesses and possibly
housing.
It needs improvement -
there should be greater
diversity in business,
services, and uses including
more housing choices.
Other (please specify)
21. What types of housing should be in the Village Mixed Use area? Think about both current and future
residents. Please check all that apply.
Small-lot single family housing
Villa style single-level town homes (detached, small lot)
Affordable housing options, may be attached or detached types
Senior housing detached
Senior housing attached
Attached, multi-family rental housing (e.g. apartments, rowhomes, etc.)
Attached, multi-family owner occupied housing (e.g. condominiums, rowhomes, etc.)
Assisted Living
This use should not be
here There should be less The amount is about right
This use should be
expanded
Retail
Professional Services
Restaurants/Coffee
shops
Medical/clinical services
Light
Industrial/Manufacturing
Community Gathering
Spaces (indoor)
Community Gathering
Spaces (outdoor)
Multi-family housing
(attached)
Single-family housing
(detached)
22. Please answer the following question based on the current uses in the Village Mixed Use area:
23. The Village Mixed Use area is an important part of the community. What ideas do you have to make it
better?
This use should not be
here There should be less The amount is about right
This use should be
expanded
Retail
Professional Services
Restaurants/Coffee
shops
Medical/clinical services
Agritourism businesses
Light
Industrial/Manufacturing
Community Gathering
Spaces (indoor)
Community Gathering
Spaces (outdoor)
Multi-family housing
(attached)
Single-family housing
(detached)
24. Please answer the following question based on the current/future uses in the Rural Mixed Use area:
25. Please share with us any other comments, issues or concerns you have about land use, zoning or
development in the City that are not covered in this survey.