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of his who needed the space. Mr. Skundberg reiterated that TIES has been a good neighbor and he <br />• didn't see any objection as long as there are no changes. <br />Judy Baldwin, Hollywood Court resident, said that the neighborhood was particularly vulnerable <br />when Harvest States left and the property was vacant for three years. They hoped to find a good <br />neighbor, and TIES had been that. <br />Rita Smith spoke again, saying that she favored the interim use on a trial basis for a year. She <br />supports the company's educational mission and suggested a coffee shop on the site. Mr. Bertz said <br />this has been considered but he doesn't know if it would be allowed.Z <br />Jim Bykowski returned to the podium to say that, if the Commission chooses to override the Staff s <br />recommendation, it is the Commission's responsibility to develop ordinances defining and regulating <br />leased storage as an ongoing business in the City, what that means and what would be acceptable. <br />We have a very small business community and we want to support them, but, he said, that does not <br />mean we can let businesses define how they use their space and how we live in our neighborhoods. <br />He challenged the Commission to write the ordinances for this use before they offer this use or make <br />any agreement with TIES. <br />Ms. Worthington responded that storage is not addressed in the code because it is not a legal use <br />anywhere in the City. She stressed that if a use is not listed, it is prohibited. City Attorney Jamnik <br />confirmed this. What the TIES owner seeks to do tonight is to establish this as an interim use in the <br />B-3 zone. It would be tightly defined, and then an interim use permit would be required that would <br />even further confine and describe the particular use being requested. Only the amendment to allow <br />the potential use is under consideration tonight, not the actual permit. Ms. Worthington added that <br />. when TIES purchased the property the City had a comprehensive discussion with them about what <br />uses are legal on the site and had requested that TIES keep the City informed about its lessees to <br />make sure their uses of the site were legal. Until now they had done so. The City had been thorough <br />in informing TIES what is legal on their property. <br />Commissioner Ziebarth asked how many vehicles were being stored. Mr. Bertz said that in Garage A <br />(see map attached) there was one vehicle in summer, three in winter. In the fire barn there is space <br />for ten; in the last two years, typically, 5 or 6 have been stored there, winter only. In area A, there is <br />only winter storage, room for 7 vehicles; this past year was the time it was used. The pole barn has <br />never been used for storage, but there is room for four vehicles. <br />In response to a question from Commissioner Lageson, Mr. Bertz confirmed that TIES owns the <br />blacktop area south of the buildings in question. Mr. Lageson also asked what constitutes "family <br />members," in application of the above stated rental policy. Mr. Bertz said "immediate family," but he <br />is not sure how far that would spread out, but in practice it would be, for instance, staff and their <br />immediate household. <br />Commissioner Harris reminded the Commission and audience that TIES has not actually made an <br />application, so the question of who could rent is not under consideration at this time. Only the code <br />amendment as stated is being considered. <br />Mr. Bertz offered as a change to the proposed amendment that the name TIES be inserted so the <br />amendment would be the only allow this use in existing TIES buildings. Councilmember Lindstrom <br />then asked if the amendment could be written to apply only to the TIES property. Commissioner <br />• Ziebarth said that this would create a "subzone" for that property and would be a much larger task <br />than an amendment. Commissioner Harris pointed out that TIES has no intention of this use being <br />temporary, and Mr. Bertz affirmed that. He said that his discussion with the City led him to feel that <br />City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of June 22, 2004 -Page 4 of 7 <br />