Title
Ordinance Amending the 2025 Comprehensive Plan - CP-14-01 for 4310 Four Farms Road
Body
Department: Planning
Council District: 3
Public Hearing: July 15, 2014
Advertising Date/By: July 3 and 10, 2014
Contact 1 and Phone: Jeff Sovich 433-7264
Contact 2 and Phone: Russ Clegg 373-2211
PURPOSE:
Hold a public hearing to consider an amendment of the Generalized Future Land Use Map (GFLUM) of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, as proposed for property located at 4310 Four Farms Road from Institutional and Low Residential (3-5 d.u./acre) to Mixed Use Residential. The map in Attachment A shows the area to be changed.
BACKGROUND:
A request has been made to amend the GFLUM as part of a rezoning request. The requested change to the GFLUM is as follows:
From
Institutional: This designation applies to university and college campuses, major medical/health care concentrations, and similar large-scale institutional activity centers.
AND
Low Residential (3-5 d.u./acre): This category includes the City's predominantly single-family neighborhoods as well as other compatible housing types that can be accommodated within this density range. Although there are some existing residential areas in the City developed on lots greater than 1/3 acre, future residential developments and "conventional" subdivisions should generally maintain a gross density of no less than three dwellings per acre, except where environmental constraints (e.g., the Watershed Critical Area) prevent such densities from being achieved. Compact developments that include clustered, small lots with substantial retained open space are encouraged.
To
Mixed Use Residential: This designation applies to neighborhoods or districts where the predominant use is residential and where substantial, compatible local-serving nonresidential uses may be introduced. Such use mixes are typically found in older, in-town neighborhoods that accommodate "corner stores" and other local services, as well as in newly developed traditional neighborhood developments (TNDs). This district is also applied in areas suited to a diverse mix of housing types and densities. Ensuring that buildings are of the appropriate scale and intensity is critical.
As part of the amendment process the Planning Board provides comments on the proposed amendment but does not make an official recommendation; these comments are then included in the official staff report for consideration by the Zoning Commission and City Council. The Planning Board reviewed this case at their February 19, 2014 meeting, and commented that they saw no issues with this change in the land use and that the area would benefit from increased connectivity to the west, as planned for in the proposed connection to Jessup's Grove Road. The change is consistent with the intent and purpose of the definition of Mixed-Use Residential as found in Connections 2025.
The Zoning Commission voted 7 to 1 to recommend in favor of the associated zoning request at its June 9, 2014 meeting. City staff recommended approval of the GFLUM amendment request and zoning request.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no impact on the budget.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Planning Department recommends approval of the proposed amendment to the Generalized Future Land Use Map.