Development Review Process

Woodbury has an adopted Comprehensive Plan which indicates the programs, physical improvements, and development strategies that would be implemented to comply with the regional plan adopted by the Metropolitan Council.

The 2040 Comprehensive Plan includes policies, goals, and calculations of land use needs for the city based upon growth projections for population, households, and employment. The plan identifies the general areas in the community where commercial, residential, industrial, and open space land uses will be allowed and provides plans, objectives, and policies indicating how growth areas will be provided with city services including roads, sewer, and water utilities, parks and open spaces. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan provides a vision and approach for the future growth and development of the city's parks and public spaces.

While the Comprehensive Plan illustrates how Woodbury is to develop in general, the zoning and subdivision ordinances, establish specific standards development must meet. These ordinances identify which uses may be located on a parcel of land according to its zoning designation (i.e., residential, office, industrial) and the minimum standards for development, such as lot size, setbacks, and the like.

Step 1: Development Application

After learning if the use could be considered on the property, continued meetings with City staff to address items like density, stormwater, utility connections, traffic, and more could be warranted. Once the concept is fully formed, the Developer submits an application to the Planning Department. State law allows a maximum of 120 days for the city to act on the development application after it is accepted for processing.

Step 2: Neighborhood Meeting

After the formal application is submitted for review by staff, but before the request is reviewed by the Planning Commission, a neighborhood meeting may be required. Neighborhood meetings are held for the following application that are within or adjacent to a residential zoning district:

• Comprehensive Plan Amendments

• Rezoning’s

• Planned Unit Developments

• Conditional Use Permits

• Preliminary Plats

• Interim Conditional Use Permits

• Variances

The Developer is required to submit two sets of mailing labels, obtained from Washington County, for all property owners within 500 feet of the property proposed for development. Planning staff and the Developer schedule the meeting and mail out the notices 10 days prior to the meeting.

The purposed of this meeting is to provide information about the application and for residents to ask questions about the project and the development process before the application is discussed by the Planning Commission and the City Council. The meeting agenda gives the Applicant 2-5 minutes to present the project and then the floor is open for questions related to City procedures. The meeting is intended to allow resident comment and improvement on the development plans.

Step 3: Planning Commission Review

Upon final plan updates based on updates based on ordinance requirements, staff review, and resident feedback, Planning Staff schedules the item for review by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is a group of volunteer citizens who are appointed by the City Council to review proposed developments and make recommendations to the City Council.

When a project is located adjacent to residentially zoned property or within a residential zoning district, the city sends out a notice of the meeting date(s) to property owners within 500 feet of the development. These notices also include the date of any future City Council meeting. This is an opportunity for citizens to participate in the Planning Commission meeting and provide their input to the commission members for consideration.

The Planning Commission considers the legal rights of property owners to develop their property, the zoning ordinance and Comprehensive plan requirements, any findings of fact, public input and staff conditions. Based on their findings, the Commission makes recommendations to the City Council.

Step 4: City Council Public Hearing

Certain development proposals, require a public hearing at a City Council meeting. In addition to the Planning Commission (and City Council) notice, a notice is published in the newspaper used by the city for legal notices.

During the Public Hearing portion of the meeting, residents are encouraged to submit their feedback on development applications. The format for submitting feedback varies by meeting but is typically done by filling out a sheet of paper in advance of the topic and submitting it to staff or the Council in advance of the meeting.

The City Council considers the recommendation by Planning Commission and staff, zoning ordinance compliance, Comprehensive Plan compatibility, public feedback, and all other background reports to make a final decision. If the Council approves the proposal, the developer can begin to work to obtain the necessary permits for construction upon completing all conditions of approval.

The City of Woodbury encourages resident involvement and participation in the development review process.

To ask a questions about the development review process or obtain more information, please contact the Planning Department at 651-714-3533.