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• All of the above objections apply, whether the proposed use were to be interim, conditional, <br />accessory or permitted. In addition: <br />• The proposed use does not fit the purpose and intent of the Interim Use Permit, as defined in <br />9-15.08 Subdivision 1. The applicant is not presenting this as a temporary use (paragraph a), a <br />presently acceptable use that is expected to become unacceptable or to be replaced in the future <br />by a permitted or conditional use in the district (paragraph b), or a use in anticipation of long <br />range change to the area (paragraph c). <br />In consideration of all the above, Staff's recommendation was that the Planning Commission deny <br />approval of the proposed amendment to the City Code. <br />The public hearing was opened by the Chair. <br />Tom Bertz, facilities manager for T.I.E.S. spoke first. He asked if he would be able to respond to <br />questions from other speakers later if he spoke first. On being assured by the Chair that he would, he <br />said he wished to address the Commission. He said that, as he had not been aware that Staff did not <br />support the application, he was not prepared with answers to the findings. The issue came up in <br />March, he said, when a tenant came to the City to get permission for a sidewalk sale. When it was <br />found that the tenant was not using the property legally, T.I.E.S. was required by the City to cancel <br />existing storage leases and move stored material off the site. This caused a loss of $12,000 revenue <br />for the non-profit. <br />Mr. Bertz distributed a site plan showing the areas that T.I.E.S. proposes to use for leased storage. <br />All are in existing buildings, and the stored items were mostly boats, snowmobiles and some "Back to <br />• the SOs" cars. Space was also leased to Rosetown players, who lost their former home in Roseville <br />City Hall. He said he did not know it would be a problem to use the property for storage. Most of the <br />site is not adjacent to a residential area. <br />If the amendment is approved, T.I.E.S. would offer six-month contracts, October through April and <br />April through October. There should not be a lot of additional traffic. There would be no new <br />construction; only existing accessory structures would be used, and the use would cease when the <br />buildings come down. There are long term plans to eliminate both the old firehouse and the pole <br />barn, which are included in the plan for interim storage. There would be no outside storage. Mr. <br />Bertz pointed out that the buildings were being used up until March, with no one even being aware, <br />so the impact would be minimal. He added that Hollywood Court residents use the parking lot for <br />access to their neighborhood, and they don't want obstruction to that. <br />In response to a question from Commissioner Maher, Mr. Bertz said that when T.I.E.S. bought the <br />building they knew there was more space than they needed and that they would rent space to <br />associated organizations. He listed the present tenants, which include several organizations, such as <br />the National Youth Leadership Council and Rosetown Players, which are headed by Falcon Heights <br />residents. <br />Jim Bykowski of St. Marys Avenue said he came because of the notice published in the newspaper. <br />He thought it was vague. He asked if the City has any ordinances regulating storage and whether this <br />amendment would allow future expansion of storage into the current parking lot. He is concerned <br />that a future owner might turn the property into a permanent ministorage facility. <br />• Ms. Jones replied that the City Code does not presently have any definition of leased storage (this use <br />is not allowed in any zone at present) as differentiated from storage that is accessory to a permitted <br />use (which is legal), that the proposed amendment was accepted verbatim from the applicant on the <br />City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of June 22, 2004 -Page 2 of 7 <br />