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1. What is planning and what do planners do?

Planners review projects to ensure that they meet City codes. Planners are also responsible for processing environmental documents, ensuring the compatibility of proposed projects with existing development, preparing long range policy documents and updating the City's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code.

2. What is the Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan is the long-range statement of how and where growth and development in the community is to be located in the future. It is adopted by ordinance and includes a number of "elements" (or chapters) related to the social, economic, and physical aspects of future development. Each of the elements includes a number of goals, objectives, and policies that are to be applied to public and private land development. Some of the elements also include future conditions maps (such as the future land use map, and the long-range transportation plan maps). All local land development regulations (such as zoning, subdivision regulations, and environmental ordinances) are to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

3. What is Zoning?

Zoning is the prime tool for implementing the Comprehensive Plan. By controlling land uses and setting development standards throughout the city, zoning can guide development. Zoning also sets standards for long developed areas and can be a very helpful neighborhood preservation tool. Zoning standards for building setbacks, building height, parking, screening, permitted activities, etc. help to ensure that people do not have costs imposed upon them by their neighbors. Zoning makes it possible to create transitional land use patterns so that incompatible uses are separated and buffered and harsh face-to-face relationships are avoided. Zoning is also utilized to protect development from flooding and to assure safe and adequate traffic flow.

4. What is a Variance?

A variance is a permit issued to a landowner by the City to deviate from the required development standards (e.g. parking, setbacks) set forth in the zoning regulations. In order to be approved for a variance, the proposal must meet several State-mandated findings.

5. What are Building Setbacks?

Building setbacks are minimum distances by which any building or structure must be separated from a property line. These setbacks assure the adequate distance to provide for supply of light and air, fire protection and more generally to assure the health safety and general welfare of property owners.

6. What is a Conditional Use Permit?

A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is a discretionary permit that may be granted by the City to allow certain use classification(s) to operate on a particular property. Use classifications subject to CUPs typically possess unusual site development features or operating characteristics requiring consideration by one of the aforementioned decision making bodies to ensure that they will be designed, located and operated compatibly with uses on adjoining properties and in the surrounding area.

7. What is a Public Hearing?

Public Hearings are held on matters when required by law or as directed by the City. Public Hearings are typically associated with a Rezoning, Conditional Use Permit or Variance application. Citizens who wish to speak at public hearings will be heard in the meeting at the discretion of the meeting chairman following a published agenda for the City Board or Commission.

8. How do I get preliminary/ initial input for a development proposal?

Prior to submitting a formal entitlement application to the Planning Division, developers are encouraged to meet with City staff from various departments to obtain preliminary direction and input. Please contact the Community Development Department if you are interested in developing in Lino Lakes.

9. What is my property zoned?

Lino Lakes has a number of zoning districts. You can check the zoning map here on the website, or search the Anoka County GIS for your property.

10. What is the parking requirement for my business?

The parking requirements differ depending on the type of the use. Specific parking requirements are available in Lino Lakes Zoning Ordinance.