HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020/03/04 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - Planning Commission - Study SessionAGENDA
PLANNING COMMISSION
6:00 P.M.
MARCH 4, 2020
STUDY SESSION
Westwood Conference Room
6-7 p.m.
1.Establishing a New Base Zoning District for Historic Walker Lake
JOINT STUDY SESSION
Council Chambers
7-8 p.m.
2.Racial equity and inclusion 101 – presentation and discussion lead by Alicia Sojourner,
racial equity manager
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call the administration department at 952.924.2525 (TDD 952.924.2518) at least 96 hours in advance of
meeting.
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Planning commission: Study session
Meeting date: March 4, 2020
Agenda item: 1.
1.Establishing a New Base Zoning District for Historic Walker Lake
Recommended
Action:
Discuss the approach to establishing the new base zoning district for
Historic Walker Lake.
Background: The Historic Walker Lake: District Revitalization Plan was completed in May 2019
and accepted by the city council in January 2020. Since its completion, city staff have analyzed
how best to implement the recommendations of the plan. One of the plan’s key
recommendations is to create a new overlay district specific to the Historic Walker Lake area.
However, implementing an overlay district that adequately addresses parking, uses, building
form, and public realm improvements while still relating to underlying base districts would be
very complicated and difficult to implement. Instead, the unique features and needs of the
Historic Walker Lake area make the establishment of a new base zoning district for this area a
much better alternative.
The revitalization plan recommends that the implementation of the overlay district focus on
uses, building form, public realm, and parking. The most pressing of these topics, parking, was
addressed in fall 2019, with the drafting and adoption of amendments to Zoning Code Sec. 36-
361 Off Street Parking Areas. Now, city staff and consulting staff at HKGi are drafting a new
base zoning district to achieve the remaining zoning recommendations in the revitalization
plan.
Approach: Our goal is to allow a mix of uses and achieve the form standards explored in the
revitalization plan. HKGi staff has completed a thorough analysis of the revitalization plan to
ensure that all desired outcomes for the district are accomplished. Finally, it is important to
take these ideas and figure out how they fit within the larger context of the city’s existing
zoning code. Issues of language, formatting, section names, references, etc., need to be
established so the new zoning district is useful for staff and the public.
Fortunately, city staff and the planning commission updated the MX - mixed use district in June
2019. The new code incorporates building and site design elements while still maintaining the
general format of the rest of the zoning code. This format provides a jumping off point for the
establishment of the Historic Walker Lake (HWL) district. Staff proposes the new HWL district fit
within Article IV, Division 9, which we recommend expanding to include all mixed use base
zoning districts, including any transit-oriented development (TOD) districts that are later
established. This move results in the rearrangement of some elements from the current MX
district (now recommended to be called the “vertical mixed use” VMX district) to apply to the
whole division.
Standards vs. guidelines: Staff’s analysis of the revitalization plan identified a number of topics
that could be regulated to accomplish the desired outcomes for the district. City staff and the
consultant team at HKGi recommend an approach that establishes basic performance standards
for the HWL district within the zoning ordinance, and then a separate document with a set of
design guidelines to address the remaining of topics. These design guidelines would be specific
to the Historic Walker Lake area and could be handed out to property owners and potential
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Regular meeting meeting of March 4, 2020 (Item No. 1.)
Title: Establishing a New Base Zoning District for Historic Walker Lake
developers. They would provide guidance for the desired character of future infill development
in the HWL district without being overly prescriptive.
The table below provides an overview of what requirements should be included within the
proposed zoning district’s performance standards and which topics should be covered as design
guidelines.
Topic Standard or Guideline
Building Mass
Lot Line Coverage Minimum (Primary &
Secondary)
Standard
Build-to Zone range (Primary &
Secondary)
Standard
Building Length Maximum Standard
Side & Rear Yard Minimums Standard
Location of Parking Standard
Location of Loading, Utility, & Trash Standard
Building Height Standard
Building Design
Transparency Standard – in addition to existing city standard
in Sec. 36-366 Architectural Design
Entrances Standard for some basic elements, others
included as guidelines
Articulation & Variety Guideline
Type of Building Cap Guideline
Balconies Guideline
Building Materials
Façade Materials Guideline – includes more specific guidance
beyond existing city standards, Sec. 36-366
Architectural Design
Color Guideline
Awnings Guideline – includes more specific guidance
beyond existing city standards in Sec. 36-366
Architectural Design
Shutters Guideline
Other
Signs Standard – includes standard in addition to
existing city standards in Sec. 36-362 Signs
Landscaping Guideline – includes more specific guidance
beyond existing city standards in Sec. 36-364
Landscaping
Public Realm (e.g. Street furniture) Guideline
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Regular meeting meeting of March 4, 2020 (Item No. 1.)
Title: Establishing a New Base Zoning District for Historic Walker Lake
Discussion: At the March 4 study session, staff will present the general approach to the district
and requests the commission address the following questions:
1.How do you feel about the approach of establishing some required performance
standards for key elements in the HWL zoning district and then encouraging a desired
character through the design guidelines for future development?
2.Are there elements missing from either the above performance standards or design
guidelines lists that need to be added?
If time allows, we will also discuss specific standards for maximum building length, minimum
building height, parking location/garage entrance location/ loading location, and curb cut
restrictions.
Next steps: At future work sessions, the planning commission will dig into the specific details of
the zoning district, including uses and performance standards and the design guidelines.
Attachments: Historic Walker Lake District Map
Prepared by: Laura Chamberlain, planning consultant with HKGi
Jennifer Monson, planner
Reviewed by: Sean Walther, planning and zoning supervisor
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Regular meeting meeting of March 4, 2020 (Item No. 1.)
Title: Establishing a New Base Zoning District for Historic Walker Lake
Historic Walker Lake District Map
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