4B - Rezone from Agriculture to Forest Mgmt

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COMMUNITY City of GROWTH Pequot _ INSTITUTE^'-- Staff Findings: Staff provides the following findings of fact for consideration by the Planning Commission: i. The applicant is proposing to rezone 12.56 acres of a 37.56 acre tract from "Agriculture"to"Forest Management." 2. The subject property does not contain any natural sensitive areas. 3. The subject property is privately owned. The property owner has not indicated any plans for future development. 4. The subject property is not within the Shoreland Area and no Shoreland soil types have been identified. 5. The only lowland on the subject property is in the lower southeast corner. The remaining area appears to be buildable. 6. The vegetative cover of the subject property consists of trees and grasses. 7. The subject property is not adjacent to a public water body. "In-water physical characteristics"and recreational use of surface water do not apply. 8. The subject property has 1,050 feet of frontage adjacent to County Road 112. 9. The proposed rezoning does not increase the socio-economic development needs of the public. 1o. The public sewer and water utilities are not available in the vicinity of the subject property. There are no plans to extend the public utilities to the area of the subject property. 11. The subject property does not contain any known significant historical or ecological value. 12. The applicant wishes split the subject property into two tracts. The southern tract must be rezoned to "Forest Management" so it meets the "total lot area" requirement of the Ordinance. 13. The subject property is surrounded by "Rural Residential," "Forest \... Management," and other properties zoned "Agriculture." The proposed reclassification is not considered"spot zoning." 14. The proposed rezoning is in conformance with the City of Pequot Lakes Comprehensive Plan. The proposed zone will require the subject property to remain in large tracts,preserving the rural character in this part of the City. 15. The future land use map identifies the subject property as "Agriculture." Rezoning a portion of the subject property to"Forest Management"is compatible with that classification and with the future land use map. Planning Commission Direction: The Planning Commission can recommend that the City Council approve,deny,or table this rezoning. Staff Recommendation: Ultimately, the property owner wishes to split the subject property into a 25 acre tract and a 12.6 acre tract. Because the minimum lot size of the "Agriculture" zone is 20 acres, the property cannot be divided as desired unless part (or all)of the property is rezoned. The proposed rezoning of the property is essentially "down-zoning." The property, if rezoned to Forest Management, will be allowed fewer uses than it would if it remained zoned "Agriculture." The proposed rezoning does not change the character or future development possibilities (they would still be limited) of the subject property. The proposal is also compatible with the future plans for that area of the City. We recommend the application be approved without any conditions. Pequot Lakes Staff Report 4(b)-3 April 18,2013