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Memo to the Mayor and City Council]OA 97-11 <br />November 17, 1997 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />interest in multi-family housing increases, it will be difficult to maintain the <br />integrity and intent of the C-2 district. Within the existing C-2 district there <br />are 27 single family homes. It is suggested that single family homes remain a <br />conditional use. They are currently included under the "residential dwellings <br />at R-4 standards". If the homes were to become non-conforming, home owners <br />would have a difficult time getting approval for home improvement loans or <br />any refinancing because as a non-conforming use the homes could not be <br />rebuilt if damaged by more than 50%. <br /> <br />The C-1 (Central Commercial) district was established for retail, service, and <br />commercial uses with an emphasis placed on pedestrian access and design <br />standards. Uses should be designed to eliminate any nuisance or <br />incompatibility with surrounding uses. The same concerns and issues that <br />apply to the C-2 district area also relevant to the C-1 district. However, in <br />order to allow an opportunity for residential presence downtown, it was <br />decided to recommend multi-family dwellings be allowed as a mixed use, <br />providing business or commercial uses occupy the ground floor below the <br />residential use, within the C-1 district. Apartments and condominiums are <br />both considered multiple-family dwellings for the purpose of the zoning <br />ordinance. This would allow development in which apartments could be <br />located above an office or retail space. It would help keep the small town <br />character and maintain a pedestrian presence downtown. A mixed use of <br />apartments and offices or retail would also allow for shared parking, the <br />offices and retail could use the parking during the day and the residents of <br />the apartments at night. <br /> <br />Planning Commission Meeting <br /> <br />This amendment was first presented to the Planning Commission on August <br />26th. There was no comments at the public hearing. The Commission asked <br />staff to clarify what was intended by "multiple family dwellings as a mixed <br />use" and postponed the item. They also directed staff to revise the <br />amendment to include the C-1 district. The revised amendment was <br />presented to the Commission at their October 28th meeting. At that meeting <br />the Commission recommended approval of the proposed ordinance <br />amendment, which included allowing multiple family dwellings as a mixed <br />use with business or retail use on the ground floor in the C-1 district and <br />single family dwellings in the C-2 district. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />The Planning Commission and staff recommend the City Council approve <br />Ordinance 97- amending the C-1 and C-2 zoning districts to eliminate <br />residential dwellings at R-4 standards as a conditional use. <br /> <br />\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\scott\oa971 lcc.doc <br /> <br /> <br />