City Council Study Session Summary 2014 07 08

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City Council Study Session Summary July 8, 2014 Page 2 of 4 greenhouse gas emissions (ghg). Matthew Prorok of the University of Minnesota presented the findings. He discussed the methodology of how the data was collected and discussed ghg emission by sector. Mr. Prorok highlighted Louisville initiatives currently in place and rebates and grant programs available. The study showed that monitoring energy consumption is useful to causing behavioral change, ie: monitoring water usage. Mr. Prorok suggested the following actions for Louisville: Employer-based commuter programs Promote Xcel Energy Efficiency programs to residents and businesses Energy monitoring Green energy purchases (windsource or solar) Develop a strategy for collecting data Mayor Muckle noted that US36 Commuter Solutions is working on a commuter plan and that Louisville has significantly reduced water usage since 2000. Public Works Director Kurt Kowar said staff is currently working on a sustainability plan to identify things we are doing well and areas to focus on. Council member Stolzmann thanked LSAB for bringing this study to Council and thinks the information is very useful. Update/Discussion Board of Adjustment: Sean McCartney, Principal Planner and Staff Liaison to the Board of Adjustments (BOA) gave an overview of the past year. The BOA hears and decides requests for variances July 2014. All were approved. McCartney said most variances are because of lot size and nonconforming structures in the RE Zone District. The minimum lot size allowed in the RE Zone District is 12,000 sf while the majority of lots in these Planned Unit Developments (PUD) are approximately 5,000 8,000 sf. Most homes were built exceeding the 20% lot coverage allowed in the RE Zone District, creating nonconforming structures. Thus, virtually any expansion or addition requires a variance. The Municipal Code does not allow for administrative variance approval. The BOA believes a comprehensive solution is necessary to resolve the issue otherwise multiple cases will continue to come before the BOA. Mayor Muckle said he is supportive of finding a solution which maintains the feel of the neighborhoods. McCartney would like to come up with solutions that make things easy for residents. Council member Lipton said Council is interested in hearing solution suggestions. Council member Dalton agreed and said he would like to move quickly.