City Council Minutes 2003 12 02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Louisville City Council Meeting December 2, 2003 Page 14 of 22 Mayor Davidson stressed this would be one of the most important decisions Council would make. He explained the 1989 Comp Plan is a very pro-growth document. He asked if the majority of the speakers at the Planning Commission public hearings were in favor of the comp plan amendment. Wood responded no. Mayor Davidson questioned whether the Planning Commission considered the specific criteria outlined in the 1989 Comp Plan. He had several questions for Planning Director Wood relative to policies outlined by the 1989 Comp Plan and whether the Planning Commission considerations included said policies. Those policies included: the desires of the community; minimizing the development impacts; maintaining the historic character of Louisville; ensuring new development is integrated with a minimum of impact to the quality of life of the existing citizens; minimizing the cost to the City associated with new development; encouraging new development to locate in areas where the existing urban infrastructure can be used; annexation decisions providing the ability to serve the need for land and cost limited to the proposed development; ensuring that residential growth can be accomplished within capacity existing and planned capital improvements; and protecting sensitive environment areas and building in potential hazardous areas. Mayor Davidson had several questions for Finance Director Charlene Laus relative to the fiscal analysis prepared by the City. He asked how the comp plan complied with the 5- year capital improvement plan. Laus reported it is not a stated requirement of the City's current five-year plan. A five-year plan would have to be developed for capital improvements. She noted that a number of capital improvements have been reviewed including: transportation, streets, parks and open space. She stated the money to support the STK development would be from the development itself. She stated individual projects were not discussed and only general observations were made in the fiscal impact study. Council member Marsella noted the criteria set out in the comprehensive plan was established for review of the general development plan. Council members Brown, Levihn and Van Pelt concurred. Mayor Davidson had several concerns relative to the impacts on City services such as water, police and parks. He referenced the request for the change to the comp plan as a result of the numerous changes in the area in the last several years. He asked if the changes were planning influences of the City of Louisville or other surrounding areas. City Planner Wood stated the changes include the Northwest Parkway, CTC, Monarch High School, Avista Hospital expansion and the purchase of open space. Mayor Davidson asked the City Attorney if the Planning Commission had the authority to modify the application submitted by StorageTek. City Attorney Light stated that both the Planning Commission and the City Council have authority to modify the application. He stated the changes to the comp plan were published and a public hearing was conducted to receive public comment on those changes. He felt the legal requirement was met. 14