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The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community <br />engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity <br /> <br />Request for Action <br /> <br />To <br />Planning Commission <br />Item Number <br />9.1 <br /> <br />Meeting Date <br />January 27, 2026 <br />Prepared By <br />Zack Carlton, Community Development Director <br /> <br />Item Description <br />Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Discussion <br />Reviewed by <br />Chris Leeseberg <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Discuss the current guidance provided by the Comprehensive Plan and provide staff with direction regarding <br />possible changes. <br /> <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />The city adopted an updated Comprehensive Plan in 2021 which removed the guidance recommendations <br />from the Focused Area Study (FAST) and created consistent land use classifications throughout the <br />community. These new land-use classes also expanded housing opportunities (duplexes, town homes, etc.) for <br />many areas of the city. These changes were made to expand affordability by increasing the variety of housing <br />types allowed in the community. Allowing small multifamily buildings in areas that had traditionally been <br />limited to single-family homes creates opportunities for smaller, generally less expensive, residential <br />dwellings. <br /> <br />The FAST area generally aligns with the uses that had been recommended in the 2010 study, but also created <br />consistency with other areas of the community, which had previously been a concern. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission should review how these land use classes are defined (primarily the Mixed- <br />Residential) and where the class may be appropriate. The Commission could consider redefining land use <br />classes, removing the statement of "small scale residential" for example, and reclassifying areas to align with <br />the commission's vision for the community. <br /> <br />Any recommendations of the commission will need to follow legal public notice requirements and include a <br />public hearing. Changes discussed during the work session are not final until both the Planning Commission <br />and City Council have held a public hearing and taken formal action. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br /> <br />Mission/Policy/Goal <br />Explain how this meets the city's mission, current policies and/or council goals <br /> <br />Attachments <br />1. Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Housing Sections <br />Page 73 of 110