5.7 PCSR 08-23-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning Commission, Jacobson Page 2 August 23, 1994 • eastern area of the City. The mechanism to be exempt from the subdivision moratorium is an ordinance amendment. SUBDIVISION MORATORIUM The City is in the process of updating the comprehensive plan. One of the main issues addressed is the possible extension of City sewer and water in the eastern area of the City. The purpose of the moratorium is to prohibit subdivision into parcels that are not efficiently served with City sewer and water. The most difficult properties to further subdivide when extending municipal utilities are residential lots ranging in the area of one to four (1-4) acres. Properties that fall into this category are expensive to serve with utilities for a single residential unit and are difficult to subdivide so that the cost of the utilities can be spread over multiple units. The City has experienced this problem in the past and is acting to prevent this from happening again. The City Council adopted the subdivision moratorium for a large portion of the eastern area of the City (see attached map). Until the comprehensive plan is amended, the one year moratorium prohibits subdivisions of land into • parcels less than ten (10) acres in size. The City Council approved the subdivision moratorium June 6, 1994. ANALYSIS The attached letter from Mr. Jacobson indicates his reason for requesting exemption from the subdivision moratorium. He is planning to move and would like to finish the Oak Meadows subdivision, which is located in the northern portion of the moratorium zone. Mr. Jacobson informed City staff that he was unaware of the subdivision moratorium until he inquired about an administrative subdivision. Further, he indicated that not allowing the subdivision request would cause extreme financial hardship because he would not be able to finish the plat and receive the most compensation for the remaining three (3) parcels. The proposed subdivision of the ten (10) acre parcel would likely be the final platting process in the Oak Meadows subdivision unless City services are extended to the area. It is important to note that if this exception is allowed, it may set a precedent leading to other similar requests in the future. Therefore, it is important to draw clear distinctions why this request may be different from other subdivision requests in order to uphold the integrity of the subdivision moratorium. One clear difference between this area and other areas in the moratorium • zone is that this area already has been platted into smaller lots (approximately 2 1/2 acre lots), therefore, the overall density is relatively jacobson.pc