4. 2030 Comprehensive Plan
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227.1110
Building Inspections
Phone: 952.227.1180
Fax: 952.227.1190
Engineering
Phone: 952.227.1160
Fax: 952.227.1170
Finance
Phone: 952.227.1140
Fax: 952.227.1110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952.227.1120
Fax: 952.227.1110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
1591 Park Road
Phone: 952.227.1300
Fax: 952.227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952.227.1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
Web Site
WIffl.ci .chanhassen. mn .us
4-
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM:
Kate Aanenson AICP, Community Development Director
DATE:
May 28, 2008
O~'
SUBJ:
2030 Comprehensi ve Plan
(The Final Draft with all revisions is posted on the City's Web Site
at www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us/serv/compplan.html)
PROPOSED MOTION
"The City Council approves the first reading of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and
authorizes submittal to the Metropolitan Council for review pursuant to Minnesota
Statutes 473.175 and 473.851 to 473.866."
City Council approval requires a two-thirds vote of the entire City Council (4 votes).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Final approval of the Comprehensive plan is contingent upon the Metropolitan
Council findings that the Plan is consistent with the Metropolitan Land Planning
Act and system statements. Upon a complete plan submittal, the Metropolitan
Council has 120 days to review the plan and make its findings.
BACKGROUND
The comprehensive plan (Plan) is a dynamic document that represents a synopsis
of City goals and policies for the current and future development of the
community. It attempts to put into a textual form a vision of the city. It provides
guidance for the realization of the City's vision. Development of the
comprehensive plan update was achieved through an extended process including
public hearing, workshops, open houses, media reports, and civic and individual
discussion. The Plan is continuously re-examined as development proposals are
presented to the City. At least annually, values and priorities are evaluated
through the budget process, especially the capital budget, and its comparison to
the capital investment plan embodied in the Plan. Finally, at least once every ten
years, the entire Comprehensive Plan must be updated, as required by state
statute, to assess where the City is in achieving its goals and policies.
The Comprehensive Plan by definition is a "values" document. It attempts to
verbalize the values of the community through the recitation of specific goals and
policies. It delineates the amenities and perceptions that make the community a
special place to live and work.
The City of Chanhassen · A growing community with clean lakes, quality schools, a charming downtown, thriving businesses, winding trails, and beautiful parks. A great place to live, work, and play.
Todd Gerhardt
May 27, 2008
Page 2
The Planning Commission held public hearings in October, November and December to review
the draft 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission reviewed the following:
. Parks and Open Space and Natural Resources chapters on October 2,2007
. Transportation, Sewer and Water chapters on October 16,2007
. Housing and Historic Preservation chapters on November 6, 2007
. Land Use chapter and proposed land use map amendments on November 20 and December 4,
2007
The Planning Commission voted on January 15,2008 to recommend that the City Council adopt
the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.
The City submitted the Plan for jurisdictional review to adjacent governmental units on October
1,2007. The six-month comment period closed April 1,2008. Copies of all correspondence
received, all Planning Commission comments and summary presentations of all chapters were
reviewed with the City Council at their work sessions beginning in January of 2008.
ANALYSIS
Following are a summary of the chapter contents, the comments recei ved and staff's responses.
Introduction - Chapter 1
This chapter includes the vision statement of the City as well as the Community and Strategic
goals. These goals were modified since the early draft to reflect 2008 data including the current
bond rating and debt policy. Goals and policies for all chapters are also located in this section.
Land Use - Chapter 2
The goal of the City is to create a mixture of land uses that provides a high quality of life and a
reliable tax base. We have a very successful downtown and there is additional opportunity for
retail; however, there is very little vacant commercial land. A major paradigm shift is being
recommended to provide for a lifestyle or regional mall as well as community commercial (big
box) retail opportunities. The commercial study evolved out of the Retail, Office and Residential
Market Analysis by the McComb Group, Ltd. This document served as the guide in evaluating
proposed land use changes, which is summarized in the following table:
2020 Land Use 2030 Land Use Change
Land Use Plan Plan 2020-2030
Acres Percent Acres Percent Acres
Commercial 212 1.4% 328 2.2% 116
Office/Industrial 1,208 8.2% 883 6.0% (325)
Office 117 0.8% 339 2.3% 222
Parks & Open Space 1,466 9.9% 1,391 9.4% (75)
Public/Semi-Public 1,242 8.4% 1,213 8.2% (29)
Residential Large Lot 2,247 15.2% 971 6.6% (1,276)
Todd Gerhardt
May 27, 2008
Page 3
2020 Land Use 2030 Land Use Change
Land Use Plan Plan 2020-2030
Acres Percent Acres Percent Acres
Residential Low Density 5,515 37.4% 4,702 31.9% (813)
Residential Medium Density 648 4.4% 400 2.7% (248)
Residential High Density 398 2.7% 218 1.5% (180)
Mixed Use 134 0.9% 115 0.8% (19)
Undevelopable 1,573 10.7% 4,200 28.5% 2,627
TOTAL 14,760 14,760 0
One of the community assets identified by the Comprehensive Plan was an identifiable
downtown area. The Plan proposes to maintain this emphasis as the community continues to
expand. The central business district and highway business districts permit a wide variety of
commercial and retail uses.
Staff is revising the intent section of the community commercial and regional/lifestyle
commercial discussion of the comprehensive plan.
The intent of the community commercial district is to provide for moderate to large-sized
commercial development. These large-scale commercial and office users need high visibility
along arterial roads. While smaller scale ancillary commercial uses may be permitted integral to
the principal use, the primary use of a building shall be "larger" type users with a minimum
space of 20,000 square feet. The intent of the district is to accommodate larger uses. The
creation of multi-tenant, small-user, strip centers is prohibited.
The regional/lifestyle commercial district is intended to provide for the development of a mixed
commercial district of a scale and function that serves a regional market and community scale
integrating retail, office, business services, personal services and services to the traveling public
near freeway interchanges. It shall strive to create a self-sustaining pattern of land uses with
cultural, employment, entertainment, housing, shopping and social components.
Resource Protection- Chapter 3
This chapter was renamed Resource Protection to include Historic Preservation as well as Solar
Protection. Our goal is to promote the preservation and protection of valuable historic and
cultural resources through community partnerships and collaborations with citizens, and non-
profit state, federal, public and private entities. The City will identify where all of the historic
properties in Chanhassen are located and the age of the structures and their significance, and
encourage the preservation of these structures and development of buildings that compliment
historic buildings. The City shall rely on Carver County to be the Historic Preservation
Organization. The requirement for solar protection notes that the City has solar protection in
several places of the City Code.
Todd Gerhardt
May 27, 2008
Page 4
Housing - Chapter 4
This chapter of the Comprehensive Plan analyzes the existing and projected housing needs of the
City. The City has adopted the Metropolitan Council's Systems Statement, which includes
population, households and employment projects. Additionally, the City has included data from
the Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment for Carver County prepared by Maxfield
Research, Inc.
Four density ranges of housing are specified in the Plan: large lot (0.4 units per acre), low
density (1.2 - 4 units per acre), medium density (4 - 8 units per acre) and high density (8 - 16
units per acre). The Plan also includes a density bonus provision for affordable housing of a 25
percent density increase in the number of housing units permitted. The housing element of the
Plan provides policies encouraging development at the higher end of the density range and
promotes the mixing of housing density to provide sufficient diversity to meet the life-cycle
needs of the residents of the City.
In conjunction with the City's participation in the Livable Communities Act, the Plan provides
an action plan including housing diversity and affordability goals for the community. The City
has been and will continue to meet the overall density guidelines of 3.3 units an acre. The City
has updated the chapter to acknowledge the Metropolitan Council's share of affordable housing
estimated for the City.
Natural Resources - Chapter 5.
One of the community's greatest assets, and a quality that is often cited by new residents, is the
natural areas and parks and open spaces that are preserved and maintained within the
community. The natural resources section identifies the important environmental amenities and
attributes in the City and their corresponding issues. The main goals encompass identifying and
preserving natural resources, protecting and improving surface water quality and wetlands, and
increasing overall tree cover and maintaining the urban forest. Proper management of public
natural resources is the overarching issue and critical to the success of Chanhassen retaining 'its
natural resources identity. It is recommended that a Natural Resources Management Plan be
developed that would encompass the management strategies for all natural resources in the City,
complement the Bluff Creek Natural Resources Management Plan, and guide the City with the
decision-making process for each issue.
Second Generation Stonn Water Management Plan (SWMp2)
The SWMp2 is referenced in the Natural Resources chapter, but is not included in its entirety.
This document was approved by the City and the Metropolitan Council in 2006 and thus is just
referenced in the Comprehensive Plan. "The SWMp2 incorporates three surface water elements:
storm water quality and quantity, wetlands and lakes. The plan puts special emphasis on
preserving and enhancing DNR protected wetlands, plans for future development and growth to
reduce the greatest extent the public capital expenditures necessary to control excessive volumes.
The plan also recommends rates of runoff to minimize flooding, erosion and sedimentation from
surface flow. The goals of the plan are to improve quality in all protected water bodies and lakes
Todd Gerhardt
May 27, 2008
Page 5
to preserve and enhance wetlands and to protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat to promote
groundwater recharge, preserve and improve water recreational facilities."
Park & Recreation - Chapter 6
The Park and Recreation chapter of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan provides an overview and an
analysis of the City's existing system. It identifies objectives and policies that will guide park
and recreation decision-making through the year 2030, as well as identifying key initiatives that
will be completed to enhance the current park and trail systems. In our community, we have
numerous non-city recreational facilities that play an integral role in fulfilling residents'
recreational needs. Minnewashta Regional Park, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the
Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge, Raguet Wildlife Management Area, golf courses and Camp
Tanadoona are all important recreation destinations. Two regional trails owned by the Hennepin
County Regional Railroad Authority and managed primarily by Three Rivers Park District can
be found in both the southern and northern tiers of the city. In addition, regional trails are
located along State Highway 101 and State Highway 5.
Transportation - Chapter 7
The Transportation chapter identifies the density and distribution of land uses in the community
and their relationship to our transportation system. It provides a functional hierarchy of
roadways for our community. It looks at system improvements that will be required within the
community and looks at transit services that will be available, and finally it looks at an
implementation program. The chapter is divided into six sections: goals and policies, land use,
MUSA staging and projections, existing systems, forecast, alternate modes of transportation or
transit, and implementation of goals and policies.
The Plan proposes the development of a multi-modal transportation system to accommodate
walkers, bikers, transit riders, and drivers. The Future Functional Classification System specifies
a hierarchy of street networks to provide long-distance and short duration trips through and
within the community. The Transportation element provides specific policies promoting
pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the community and requiring linkages between
developments. The Plan also expands and promotes transit alternatives including bus service,
light rail transit, commuter rail, and travel demand management.
After the City Council work session reviewed the Transportation chapter, staff added a definition
of minor collectors and local roads, expanded the discussion of the City's assessment practices,
expanded the discussion of the pavement management program and revised two of the policies as
follows:
Roadways
4. Residential Streets should be designed to discourage cut-thru traffic, to promote the
connection of neighborhoods and to be compatible with other transportation modes
including transit, bicycle and walking.
Todd Gerhardt
May 27, 2008
Page 6
Other
10. Interconnect Neighborhoods. It is the City's policy to require interconnections
between neighborhoods through the construction of local streets to foster a sense of
community, to improve safety and to provide convenient access for residents.
Sanitary Sewer - Chapter 8
Chapter 8 of the comprehensive plan is Sanitary Sewer. The sanitary sewer plan presents the
existing sanitary infrastructure and the general location and size of future sanitary sewer
infrastructure under fully-developed conditions. The Sanitary Sewer chapter serves as a guide
for the provision of sewer service to the community as it continues to develop. The revised
Metropolitan Urban Services Area (MUS A) phasing map represents a significant change from
the MUSA phasing plan contained in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Additional narrative was
included within the Plan explaining the basis for the change and to permit the development of the
area as soon as the utility extension comes on line.
Water - Chapter 9
Chapter 9 of the Comprehensive Plan is Water. The water plan identifies the existing trunk and
lateral watermain and wells within the City. The general alignment and size of future trunk
watermain and the general location of future well sites and future water towers is also shown.
In response to outside agency review, the City has expanded its discussion on water conservation
efforts within the community to incorporate existing practices as well as additional measures that
the City will investigate. The City has an emergency management and conservation plan that the
DNR is reviewing. The Plan consists of three parts: water supply, emergency response and
water conservation.
Capital Improvements - Chapter 10
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) chapter provides a systematic assessment of the timing
and magnitude of improvements that will be required to implement the comprehensive plan.
Based on the Chanhassen City Council's approval of the 2008-2012 CIP, staff has prepared a
revision to the CIP incorporating the changes. Additionally, staff has revised the table to link
projects to show the interrelated nature of the CIP. However, detailed descriptions of the
potential projects are not appropriate within the Comprehensive Plan since they are dealt with in
the City's five-year CIP.
The Comprehensive Plan provides guidance in evaluating options for the furtherance of
community goals and policies. It establishes a framework to develop priorities in the
development and servicing of the city. The capital investment plan attempts to provide an
effective and efficient plan for the capital investment within the community as well as
coordinating the provision of community services.
Todd Gerhardt
May 27, 2008
Page 7
Jurisdictional Review
To date, the City has received waivers of future comments on the City of Chanhassen 2030
Comprehensive Plan from the following jurisdictions: Eden Prairie, Independent School District
276, Minnetonka, and Shakopee.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the following motion: "The City Council approves the
first reading of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and authorizes submittal to the Metropolitan
Council for review to Minnesota Statutes 473.175 and 473.851 to 473.866."
A second reading and resolution adopting the plan will follow after the Metropolitan Council
approval.
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