Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF DULUTH TO INCLUDE LOWER SECTIONS OF MILLER CREEK AND COFFEE CREEK IN THE SHORELAND OVERLAY
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
The city of Duluth does ordain:
Section1. After reviewing the planning commission file PLUMA-2509-0006 and the record pertaining thereto, and based on the October 28, 2025, recommendation of the planning commission, the city council hereby adopts the findings of the planning commission and concludes that the application:
A. Is consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan;
B. Is reasonably related to the overall needs of the community, to existing land use, or to a plan for future land use;
C. Is required by public necessity, convenience, or general welfare, or good zoning practice; and.
D. Will not create material adverse impacts on nearby properties, or if material adverse impacts may be created, they will be mitigated to the extent reasonably possible.
Section 2. That the Shoreland Overlay of the Official Zoning Map of the City of Duluth be amended to include the lower sections of Miller Creek and Coffee Creek, as depicted in the attached exhibit (Attachment 1) and described in the staff memo (Attachment 2), as General Development Waters.
Section 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days from and after its passage and publication.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this ordinance is to include lower sections of Miller Creek and Coffee Creek in the Shoreland Overlay. Neither creek section was previously included in the Shoreland Overlay. The subject section of Coffee Creek was recently daylit during reconstruction of the Twin Ports Interchange Reconstruction. Both creek sections are identified by the Minnesota DNR as public water trout streams. Including these streams in the Shoreland Overlay is consistent with the management of other streams in the City. This proposal is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, which identifies the areas as Open Space.
On October 15, 2025, the Duluth city planning commission held a public hearing on the proposed UDC map amendment and considered the findings in the staff memo (File No. PLUMA-2509-0006 and attached hereto as Attachment 2). The item was tabled to allow for further coordination with the DNR prior to making a recommendation. On October 28, 2025, the Duluth city planning commission held a public hearing on the proposed UDC map amendment and considered the findings in the staff memo (File No.PLUMA-2509-0006 and attached hereto as Attachment 2) and voted 7 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention, to recommend that the city council approve the UDC map amendment with the modification that the proposed creeks are included in the Shoreland Overlay with a General Development classification for the following reasons:
1) This proposal is consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
2) Is reasonably related to the overall needs of the community, to existing land use, or to a plan for future land use.
3) Is required by public necessity, convenience, or general welfare, or good zoning practice.
4) Will not create material adverse impacts on nearby properties, or if material adverse impacts may be created, they will be mitigated to the extent reasonably possible.
5) The General Development Shoreland designation more closely aligns with the existing development pattern of the area.
Date of application: September 11, 2025
Action deadline: N/A