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The Planning Commission is recommending that the property be zoned Forest Mana eg ment. This <br /> recommendation is based on the following findings of fact: <br /> 1. Approximately over 90%of the 80 acre parcel is heavily wooded. <br /> 2. The proposed rezoning to Agriculture is consistent with the City's Future Land Use Map, <br /> which designates these parcels as Agricultural. <br /> 3. The proposed rezoning to Agriculture is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, <br /> which states that "inner forests are unique physical features that contribute to scenic <br /> beauty, north woods character, timber production, wildlife habitat, and recreation <br /> opportunities. Once gone, they cannot be replaced. They need to be protected from <br /> encroaching development." <br /> 4. Rezoning to the Forest Management District zone provides for greater consistency with <br /> the Comprehensive Plan, than does the Future Land Use Map designation which guides <br /> the property for Agriculture. <br /> 5. The subject property is surrounded by properties that have been rezoned to a combination <br /> of zones, yet a consistent mature tree stand surrounds land use on all 4 sides of the <br /> property, except for partial clearings for access & power lines and a slightly larger clear <br /> cut area to the east. <br /> 6. The adjoining property to the west has been rezoned to Forest Management District zone <br /> and similarly does not contain structural improvements to the property. From an aerial <br /> perspective, these two parcels are very similar in nature, with the exception of the power <br /> line easement that clipped the northeast corner of the parcel. This consistency supports <br /> the same zoning classification to Forest Management. <br /> 7. The land to the east is proposed to be rezoned to Rural Residential, yet will likely <br /> maintain significant preservation of mature tree stands on two 20 acre attached parcels, <br /> even with the clear cut swath that runs east and west through the property, due to the <br /> enhanced value of these mature tree stands for residential properties. A greater emphasis <br /> on preservation of these mature stands will serve to protect and maintain the existing and <br /> future values for surrounding properties. <br /> 8. The Forest Management Zone is compatible with the Agriculture, Rural Residential, <br /> Transition Residential, Commercial, and Light Industrial zones. <br /> 9. The property was zoned Forestry under the previous Ordinance, which required a <br /> minimum lot size of 10 acres. The Agriculture zone has a minimum lot size of 20 acres, <br /> while the Forest Management zone has a minimum lot size of 10 acres. Therefore, the <br /> rezoning to Agriculture would be a down-zoning from the previous zoning classification. <br /> Rezoning to Forest Management would, however, maintain a consistent lot size <br /> requirement for the property, with the additional requirements for management plans for <br /> cutting. <br /> 10. The property, with the exception of the corner cut off parcels for the easements,meet the <br /> minimum lot size for both the Agriculture and Forest Management zones, being roughly <br /> 40 acres in size each. <br /> 14084 Baxter Drive, Suite 7 <br /> Baxter, MN 56425 <br /> (218) 828-3064 <br /> www.communitygrowth.com <br />