Politics & Government
Planning Commission Clears the Way for Senior Housing
Recommended zoning code change could lead to development at Harold and Winnetka
On Monday, May 9, the Golden Valley Planning Commission met to discuss issues regarding zoning throughout the city. They decided to recommend the City Council adopt a new conditional use in the zoning code that would allow higher density senior housing to be built in current medium density areas. The law change would remove a hurdle for development at Harold and Winnetka Avenues.
Starting in 2008, the City along with the Commission created a plan for Golden Valley. This plan is reflected on a land use plan map, and shows how leadership envisions different areas of the city being developed. At Monday night’s meeting, the Commission tackled a greater need for senior housing by addressing a zoning question.
Originally, the land use plan map allocated areas that were appropriate for higher density housing (more than 12 units per acre). Upon completion of a traffic study, the Commission found that general higher density housing would unacceptably increase traffic. Senior housing, however, had much less of an impact given that the residents were less likely to own cars or be using their cars during rush hour.
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The best solution to the Commission was to allow higher density senior housing in those areas, increasing housing capacity and meeting a need for the graying population, while also controlling traffic flow. To do this, the Commission recommend to the City Council that all areas zoned R3, or medium-density residential, be allowed to have higher density senior housing as a conditioned use. The main affect of this is that any developer wishing to apply for a higher density senior housing facility must apply for a conditioned use permit.
In the future, this recommendation could have implications for the corner of Winnetka Ave. and Harold Ave., a proposed site for senior housing. The city planner at the meeting announced that June 23 there would be a round-table meeting for members of the community.
Patch will be reporting on this and other issues regarding zoning and development in the future.
