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City of Falcon Heights • Planning Commission Minutes June 22, 2004 Chair Pamela Harris called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and welcomed the visitors present and the cable viewing audience. PRESENT: Commissioners DeLeo, Harris, Heideman, Lageson, Maher, Ryan, Ziebarth, Council Member Lindstrom. Also present was City Administrator Heather Worthington, City Attorney Joel Jamnik and Staff Liaison Deb Jones. ABSENT: Lukermann (with notice), Tracy The minutes of the May 25, 2004, meeting were approved. AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE FOR THE B-3 ZONE PROPOSED BY T.I.E.S. TO ADD RENTAL OF STORAGE SPACE AS AN INTERIM USE. Preliminary to the public hearing, Staff Liaison Jones presented the staff report on matter before the commission this evening, an application from T.I.E.S., 1667 N. Larpenteur Avenue, to add as an interim use in the B-3 Zone (Snelling Larpenteur Community Business District) the rental of storage space in existing buildings. The proposed interim use is as follows: Private storage of vehicles, small trailers, recreational vehicles, equipment or tools, community • theatre equipment, materials and similar items, when stored within existing accessory structures. If the Council were to approve this ordinance, an interim permit would be required, as stated in Chapter 9, Section 15.08, with procedures similar to those for a Conditional Use Permit. It is the City's understanding that it is the intent of TIES, if this ordinance is adopted and a permit is granted, to rent or lease storage space to businesses and private individuals. City Staff does not support the proposed amendment, said Ms. Jones, in view of the following findings: • The proposed use does not fit the purpose and intent of the Snelling and Larpenteur Community Business District, as set forth in Section 9-10.01 Subdivision 1. • The proposed use would apply to all properties in the B-3 zone, not just the TIES property, and would enable any property owner in B-3 to consider a similar use. • The proposed use is not the "highest and best" use of land in the central commercial district of the City. • Owners of other properties at Snelling and Larpenteur have invested and will invest millions of dollars to redevelop their properties and to enhance the appearance and quality of existing development. This proposed use does not complement those efforts. • The proposed use is vaguely worded enough to include the possible storage of items and materials which could have a negative impact on neighboring residential and commercial properties and on public health and safety. • Even if specific conditions and limits were included in the actual permit, enforcement would be costly and difficult for the City. Staff is not confident that effective enforcement would even be possible. • • There are security risks related to the storage of materials, especially vehicles, in a location immediately adjacent, not only to a residential neighborhood and to the commercial core of the City, but to one of the busiest intersections in the Metro area. City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of June 22, 2004 -Page 1 of 7