Title
An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code), Zoning of 32.6 Acres from R3 (Townhouse Dwelling) to R4B (Multiple-Family Dwelling), Mill Creek Townhomes Rezoning, 3002 Chelsea Circle, (CPC Recommendation: Approval - 8 Yeas and 0 Nays) (ORD-21-34)
Memorandum
Approval of this resolution will zone a 32.6-acre site from R3 (Townhouse Dwelling) to R4B (Multiple-Family Dwelling) to allow new apartment buildings to be constructed as infill development at an existing townhouse community.
The Master Plan’s 8 elements, taken together, seek to guide the City towards sustainability, conservation, and increasing livability, affordability, transportation choices, and denser, mixed uses on vibrant, active, friendly streets. The Land Use element recommends “single family attached” for the site.
Staff’s analysis of the rezoning petition as provided in our report to Planning Commission on August 17, 2021, included the following comments:
• The R3 district is a multiple-family residential district that allows dwelling units side-by-side, up to 10 units per acre. The R4B district is a multiple-family residential district that allows dwelling units in any configuration, up to 15 units per acre. Setbacks and normal height limits are the same in both districts.
• Although the future land use recommendation is for single-family attached use, the proposed rezoning is in keeping with and furthers the first four land use goals of the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element [summarized as]: ensuring developments are designed and constructed in a way that preserves or enhances the integrity of natural systems; designs that help reduce reliance on automobiles; developments that provide a full range of housing choices for existing and future needs of all City residents; and supporting continued viability, health and safety of City residential neighborhoods.
• Enabling new apartment buildings along with townhouse buildings on this site will be an almost undetectable difference outside of this development and offers the potential to provide units with more accessibility benefits (single-story apartments, elevators possible, etc.)
• Supporting this rezoning application has many benefits in terms of achieving the land use goals of the Comprehensive Plan with no detriment from deviating from the land use recommendation.
Accompanying the rezoning petition, as a separate submittal, is a site plan application to construct an additional 102 dwelling units in four apartment buildings, and demolish and rebuild the community center. Landscape modifications are requested to allow required landscape improvements to be limited to the areas adjacent to the new buildings. A variance was granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals on September 22, 2021 to apply EV parking space requirements to only the newly constructed parking spaces.
The City Planning Commission determined that the proposed zoning is consistent with the adjacent zoning, the surrounding land uses, and the City's Comprehensive Plan and recommended approval of the request at its meeting of August 17, 2021.
Attachments: August 17, 2021 Planning Staff Report
August 17, 2021 Planning Commission Minutes
September 22, 2021 Staff Report to Zoning Board of Appeals
Ordinance to Amend Chapter 55
Staff
Prepared by: Alexis DiLeo, City Planner
Reviewed by: Brett Lenart Planning Manager
Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., Interim City Administrator
Body
(See Attached Ordinance)