Disposition Summary

Approve the POS (Parks and Open Space) place type because it will protect a sensitive natural area.

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Staff Recommendation

Approve the POS (Parks and Open Space) place type because it will protect a sensitive natural area.

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PURSUANT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, CHAPTER 3 IMPLEMENTATION, A PLAN AMENDMENT MAY BE APPROPRIATE IF THERE IS AN OBVIOUS OR SIGNIFICANT ERROR OR OMISSION IN THE PLAN, OR IF TWO OR MORE OF THE OTHER CRITERIA APPLY.

OBVIOUS OR SIGNIFICANT ERROR OR OMMISSION IN THE PLAN:
1. When the Comprehensive Plan was adopted, a portion of the subject property was part of the abutting parcel to the north that has frontage on Westland Drive, which aligns with the CMU (Corridor Mixed-Use) place type. This portion was subdivided into its own lot in 2025, and it was combined with the 9-acre property directly to the south in April 2026, changing its access (Exhibit B).
2. The subject property is now part of a 13-acre lot with a single family house whose sole access is a long, 25-foot wide access strip with a gravel driveway. The CMU place type is misaligned with this substandard access.
3. A jurisdictional waters report was completed in 2019 that identified jurisdictional wetlands and streams on the subject property, and this information was not considered when the CMU place type was assigned (Exhibit B). Updating the land use classification to POS (Parks and Open Space) would better align with this sensitive natural area.


IF THERE ARE NO ERRORS OR OMMISSIONS, TWO OF THE FOLLOWING CRITIERIA MUST BE MET:

CHANGES OF CONDITIONS (SUCH AS SURROUNDING LAND USES, ZONING, UNCONTROLLED NATURAL FORCES/DISASTERS, ETC.):
1. As previously mentioned, the subject property's sole access became a one-way gravel access strip off of Westland Drive when it was subdivided in 2025 and 2026 and added to a property containing a residence. This access and land use does not support the current CMU place type.

INTRODUCTION OF SIGNIFICANT NEW UTILITIES OR LOCAL/STATE/FEDERAL ROAD PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT ANTICIPATED IN THE PLAN AND MAKE DEVELOPMENT MORE FEASIBLE:
1. No improvements are anticipated to this section of Westland Drive. The property's access is substandard, which does not align with the current CMU place type.

NEW DATA REGARDING TRENDS OR PROJECTIONS, POPULATION, HOUSING CONDITIONS, OR TRAFFIC GROWTH THAT WARRANT RECONSIDERATION OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN:
1. The 2019 jurisdictional waters report identified wetlands and streams that were not considered when the CMU place type was assigned.

THE PROPOSED CHANGES SUPPORT THE POLICIES AND ACTIONS, GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND CRITERIA OF THE PLAN:
1. The plan amendment is not in conflict with any policies of the Comprehensive Plan, and it would align with the intent of the POS place type to permanently protect natural areas.
2. The proposed plan amendment aligns with the Comprehensive Plan's Implementation Policy 7, to encourage development practices that conserve and connect natural features and habitat.