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• Planning Commission 2/22/05 ITEM: Interim Use Permit for the Twin Cities Co-ops Federal Credit Union SUBMITTED BY: Deborah Jones, Planning and Zoning Coordinator REVIEWED BY: Heather Worthington, City Administrator Roger Knutson, City Attorney EXPLANATION: Summary: For the last two summers, a Farmer's Market has been in operation in the north parking lot of Twin City Cooperative Federal Credit Union at 2025 W. Larpenteur Avenue in Falcon Heights. The market has been open Tuesday mornings, 8:00 a.m. to noon, from June through October. The existence of the market is allowed under an Interim Use Permit (IUP) that was first issued in 2003 and reissued in 2004, after changes were made to the City Code in 2003 to include this interim use in the B2 zone. Both of these permits were valid for one year. The Farmer's Market has become a popular and highly valued asset to the community. Response has been overwhelmingly positive during both seasons. Residents have expressed much appreciation for the way the market has been conducted and for the excellent supervision and stewardship provided by the property owner TCCU. In 2004, the IUP was changed to adjust the parking requirements in response to the experience of the first season. Traffic flow in and out of the parking lot was streamlined, and provisions were made to facilitate east-bound exit from Prior Avenue onto Larpenteur. According to observations by both City Staff and TCCU personnel, the traffic and parking changes worked well. Proposed changes to the IUP in 2005: This year three changes are proposed to the Interim Use Permit for the Farmer's Market: 1. Staff recommends that the new permit become open ended rather than limited to one year. The new permit would be good as long as Twin City Co-op owns and occupies the property and all other permit conditions are met. After two successful years Staff finds that the Co-op has done an excellent job hosting this community asset. Extending the time of the IUP will save the expense and time of renewing the permit annually while the Co-op occupies the site, while avoiding possible unanticipated consequences of amending the City Code yet again to make this a conditional use, available to future owners or occupants of the property. 2. The Market would begin in May instead of June to give the vendors an opportunity to offer perennials and bedding plants at the appropriate season. This change is requested by the Market management. • 3. Sales would be allowed to begin at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8:00 to give commuters the opportunity to shop before they go to work. a3