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City M emoran d um of Falcon Heights <br /> DATE: 28 February 1994 <br /> TO: Mayor and Councilmembers <br /> Planning Commission <br /> FROM: Susan Hoyt, City Administrator <br /> REVIEWED BY: Peter Bachman, City Attorney <br /> RE: Study related to location of pawn shops and HIGH IMPACT secondhand <br /> goods stores <br /> Background <br /> While undergoing a study of uses in its commercial zoning districts, the City of <br /> Falcon Heights's Planning Commission ff studi shops and High Impact specific <br /> uses in the city's commercial districts including pawn <br /> secondhand goods stores. The proposed zoning revisions clarify that pawn shops <br /> are not allowed. Secondhand goods stores which engage in the sale of any of the <br /> following items are not allowed: any used automobiles; electronic equipment such <br /> as stereos, cameras, computers, televisions, audio appliances; jewelry and precious <br /> gems; or guns (hereinafter, referred to as High Impact secondhand goods stores). <br /> The City of Falcon Heights's commercial districts are designed to serve the <br /> neighborhood or community. They are not general business districts nor is Falcon <br /> Heights a regional shopping area. The close proximity between the commercial <br /> areas and residential dwellings, typically 40 feet to 100 feet, requires careful <br /> attention to possible impacts from nearby commercial uses. <br /> Study <br /> Crime data. Pawn shops and High Impact secondhand goods stores (selling <br /> easily fenced items) are frequently part of the cycle of crime by receiving <br /> and selling stolen goods. The planning commission and staff reviewed the <br /> crime data associated with these uses. Crime data on these uses was <br /> collected from several Twin City municipalities (Attachment 1). The <br /> information gathered found that the number of reported crimes for pawn <br /> shops and High Impact secondhand goods stores varied with individual <br /> stores, but that as a group there were more reported crimes than with other <br /> commercial uses permitted in the city's commercial district. <br />