8.2. SR 05-19-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chapter 3: Using the Plan / 17 Elk River Comprehensive Plan Nonconforming Uses Changes in zoning districts will create nonconforming uses. Such uses occur when the existing land use is not allowed within the zoning district. In most cases, when these situations arise as the result of a new or amended Comprehensive Plan, the goal is not to inﬂ uence an immediate change in the property use. Instead, the objective is to guide future investment to achieve the outcomes desired by the Comprehensive Plan. Nonconforming uses are controlled by the City’s Zoning Ordinance. A review of the overall Zoning Ordinance will provide the context for an evaluation of the nonconforming provision of the Ordinance. This evaluation, in turn, may point to Ordinance changes that will assist in the reasonable transition of nonconforming land uses. Subdivision Regulations Changes to the Subdivision Regulations are not required for the immediate adoption of the Plan. The Plan does raise a series of potential changes in subdivision regulations that should be considered by the City over the next several years. ·Continue to consider amending the data required for Preliminary and Final Plat application to include the Resource Inventory required for Open Space Preservation Plats; ·Consider whether to alter subdivision design standards to achieve more affordable housing without sacriﬁ cing the sustainability of neighborhoods. ·Continue to study and make modiﬁ cations as necessary to the park dedication requirements to enhance the ability to undertake the greenway plan. Building Codes As conditions warrant, the City should coordinate with others to explore opportunities to facilitate the City’s progress toward sustainable development by updating the City’s adopted Building Code to address “green” building techniques. Amending the Plan The Comprehensive Plan anticipates change in Elk River over the next several decades. Develpoment must occur in a manner consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinances. If a proposed development is inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan, the City must evaluate whether or not it should amend the Comprehensive Plan (and likely the Zoning Ordinances) to allow the development to occur. A great deal of thought, time and energy went into this Plan, and the same effort must go into any amendment. Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan may take several forms: ·Changes to the Land Use Plan map or categories of the Land Use element; ·Changes in other elements of the Plan; ·Plans and other studies that become part of the Comprehensive Plan (e.g. Mississippi Connections Redevelopment Plan and the FAST Study); ·Updating of entire sections of the Plan as needed; or ·Revisions related to major geographic or demographic sections of the community.