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City of Falcon Heights . Planning Commission Minutes November 28, 2006 PRESENT: Commissioners De Leo, Lageson, Lukermann, Mercer-Taylor, Rodich, and Ryan. Also present was Staff Liaison Deb Jones. ABSENT: Tracy, City Council Liaison Kuettel The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ryan at 7:05 p.m. The minutes of the September 26, 2006 meeting were approved with one correction. PUBLIC HEARING: Proposed new ordinance on mobile storage structures Staff Liaison Jones presented background information on this issue. During the past year several residents have expressed concern to the staff about the presence of portable storage units in residential neighborhoods. Concerns have focused on the appearance of these structures, location and the length of time they are present. The worry is that these units may tend to become, in effect, permanent and, when located on rights of way, they may block sight lines and create a traffic hazard. At present the City does not have any regulation that applies to these structures. The City Council discussed the issue in workshop and concluded that some regulation of • portable storage units is in order. The Council has submitted a proposed ordinance for Planning Commission consideration. The proposed ordinance would create a definition of mobile storage structures and add a section to the code that limits the location and size of the structures, limits their duration of use and defines some obligations of property owners regarding safety and security. Commission Chair Patrick Ryan opened the public hearing. There were no persons who wished to speak. The hearing was closed. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Proposed new ordinance on mobile storage structures Commissioner Lageson asked how many complaints had been received. Ms. Jones said she personally knew of three or four regarding two properties, but it was possible there were others that had not been passed on to her. Commissioner Rodich said that 72 hours might be more reasonable than the suggested 48, as it would allow people to keep containers over a weekend. He also asked for more discussion on the impervious surface requirement. Commissioner Ryan asked about the 10 foot dimensional restriction in the definition, and Commissioner Lukermann pointed out that the definition and the ordinance are not consistent regarding dimension. Mr. Ryan said his research found that ordinances in other cities do not use a minimum dimension in their definition of portable storage structure. Ms. Jones said that the Commission can certainly amend the ordinance in its recommendation to Council. • In response to a question from Commissioner Lukermann, Commissioners discussed the kinds of uses to which people put these structures and circumstances under which property owners would rent them. They made some careful distinctions between the containers defined in the City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of November 28, 2006 -Page 1 of 3