Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF DULUTH TO RECLASSIFY THE PARCEL DESCRIBED AS 010-4680-01265 FROM RESIDENTIAL- TRADITIONAL (R-1) TO RESIDENTIAL-PLANNED (R-P).
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
The city of Duluth does ordain:
Section 1. After reviewing the planning commission file PLUMA-2502-0001, shown as Attachment 1, and the record pertaining thereto and based on the recommendation of the planning commission at a special meeting on March 27, 2025, the city council hereby adopts the findings of the planning commission and concludes that the application, as modified by the findings of the planning commission and amended concept plan shown in Attachment 2:
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 official zoning map of the City of Duluth, as referenced in Chapter 50 of the Duluth City Code, 1959, as it relates to property located at 2732 Woodland Avenue, PID 010-4680-01265, be amended and reclassified from Residential Traditional (R-1) to Residential Planned (R-P) according to the findings and conclusions of the planning commission and the project narrative set forth in Attachment 1, which specify a permitted density of 9.2 units per acre, up to a maximum of 75 total residential units, a maximum permitted building height of 45 feet, permitted uses of single-family, two-family, townhouse, and multi-family, and the identified public benefits described in the developer’s project narrative, as modified by the amended concept plan shown in Attachment 2 depicting site acreage, development density, common open space, shoreland development up to a maximum of 24 units, and non-shoreland development up to a maximum of 75 units, minus any units located in shoreland.
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 ordinance is to change the zoning of the parcel 010-4680- 01265 from Residential-Traditional (R-1) to Residential-Planned (R-P). The property owner is proposing to construct a two-building multi-family development on the property.
At a special meeting on March 27, 2025, the planning commission held a public hearing, minutes included as Attachment 4, on the proposed UDC Zoning Map amendment, where the commission heard oral public comments and considered written comments submitted to the commission before and at the public hearing (Attachments 1 and 3) reviewed the developer’s project narrative and staff report findings and conclusions associated with the rezoning request (Attachment 1), and discussed and deliberated the matter as a commission. The planning commission considered a motion, as amended, to recommend to city council the UDC Zoning Map Amendment with staff recommendations with the modification to remove “live-work” as an allowed use, with the motion passing on a vote of 6 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions. The planning commission finds that “live-work” is not permitted in R-P districts under UDC Table 50- 19.8.
The permitted uses for the proposed R-P district, as modified by the planning commission, are limited to single-family, two-family, townhouse, and multi-family. The permitted density is 9.2 units per acre, up to a maximum of 75 total residential units. The maximum permitted building height is 45’, which is an allowable modification to the default R-1 maximum of 30-feet provided in UDC Table 50-14.7-1. The identified public benefits include the applicant’s proposals to protect 34% of the property as common open space, create dense urban development that to address an ongoing city need for housing through more efficient uses of land than those permitted in R-1 districts, and provide a public trail/sidewalk from Wadena St to Woodland Ave.
Subsequent to the planning commission meeting, the developer submitted a modified site concept plan shown in Attachment 2 depicting site acreage, development density, common open space, shoreland development, and non-shoreland development.
Having reviewed and considered the Application and conducted a public hearing, the planning commission recommends that the city council approve the UDC Zoning Map Amendment with the conditions stated for the following reasons:
1) This proposal is consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan by allowing housing in an area identified for residential use.
2) The proposed R-P District is consistent with the future land use categories “Open Space” and “Traditional Neighborhood”.
3) This proposal is reasonably related to the overall needs of the community, to existing land use, or to a plan for future land use;
4) This proposal is required by public necessity, convenience, or general welfare, or good zoning practice; and.
5) Material adverse impacts on nearby properties are not anticipated or will be mitigated.
Date of application: March 5, 2025
Action deadline: July 3, 2025