5.1. PCSR 08-24-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Why do we need to the submittal requirements and procedures for condi- tional use permits and variances.Further,the application Update our current requirements for site plans in the Downtown District are not clearly and objectively listed,while the information land deye0 lment is defined for conditional use permits in Division 2.The code's user-friendliness would be strengthened if the regu latio n s. permit procedures were organized together within one division and if application requirements and procedures Ease of Use were clearly and consistently listed. Every Elk River resident'business owner'or developer Development Standards and should be able to navigate and understand the Code Use Specific Provisions without the assistance of an attorney or member of p City staff.One significant factor that detracts from the Development standards and use specific provisions are user-friendliness of Elk River's land development regu- scattered throughout Article VI-Zoning.The structure of lations is its organization.Land development regulations the development standards and use specific provisions should be organized in a manner that makes it straightfor- should be reorganized to reduce excessive cross refer- ward to use and administer.User-friendly regulations use encing,improve readability,and be more user friendly.In tables and graphics when appropriate,and order sections addition to restructuring these sections,the City should based on how frequently they are used and referenced. enhance and modernize existing standards and estab- lish additional standards in order to align with the vision, Elk River's current land development regulations are not goals,and recommendations of this Plan and to reflect structured to allow developers or members of the public current best practices.For example,Division 5 lists parking to find relevant information rapidly.For instance,Division minimums for permitted uses,however,the section does 2-Administration and Enforcement,which defines the not enumerate tools such as shared parking,an essential City's permit procedures and requirements,and Division tool in realizing the outlot development detailed in the 5-Supplemental Regulations,which includes regulations Economic Development Plan. for specific uses such as accessory buildings and personal solar panels,are at the beginning of Article VI-Zoning. Another barrier to realizing outlot development is the Meanwhile,Divisions 6,7,and 8,which list the allowable City's minimum parking requirements.For example,the uses,setbacks,and lot sizes for different districts,come minimum amount of parking required for a retail store toward the end of Article VI-Zoning.Most code users seek is I space for every 200 square feet of floor area.The to know the permitted uses and dimensional standards for national average minimum requirement,based on the their site of interest before understanding detailed proce- Institute of Transportation Engineers,is 1 space for every dures on permitting processes or regulations for specific 250 square feet of floor area.Although this difference uses,and so the City's existing format requires most code may seem marginal,when extrapolated out to a potential users to sift through the first several articles before finding development,it could have big impacts on the develop- the information they need to get started.The organiza- ment potential of a piece of property.For example,a typical tion and user-friendliness of Article VI-Zoning could be grocery store has around 40,000 square feet of floor area improved if the permitted use and dimensional regulations and would therefore require 200 parking spaces based on in each district were presented together in a tabular format Elk River's existing minimum requirement.The industry at the article's beginning. standard however would require only 160 parking spaces. Elk River requires that parking spaces be 9 feet wide and Further,the structure of information within the Divisions 20 feet long,or 180 square feet.Therefore,Elk River would of Article VI-Zoning is not intuitive and may require require the typical grocery store to dedicate 36,000 square many code users to look back and forth between different feet of land area to parking while the industry standard subsections to locate relevant information.For instance, would require only 27,360,an 8,640 square foot difference. a site plan review and permit process for applications in Not only does this excessive requirement limit the devel- the Downtown District is defined in Section 30-1026(g), opment potential of a property,it also negatively impacts while the procedure is not clearly enumerated in Division stormwater absorption and can lead to urban heat island 2-Administration and Enforcement,which contains issues. 128 Implementation Plan•Elk River Comprehensive Plan DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY