05-25-05 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 25, 2005 AMENDMENT TO THE ZONNG CODE- OUTDOOR STORAGE IN I-P DISTRICT Blesener opened the Public Hearing to consider an Amendment to the Zoning Code relative to outdoor storage in the Industrial-Park (I-P) District. He noted that the Planning Commission recommended approval of an amendment that would require additional screening of outdoor storage if the equipment and materials stored exceeds the height of the screening fence. Blesener felt that the first issue was whether or not the City wanted to continue the outdoor storage use in the I-P District, and asked if the Planning Commission had that discussion. Blesener indicated that it is his understanding that some cities are eliminating the outdoor storage use. The City Planner indicated that the Planning Commission led off with that discussion and decided that iC did not want to eliminate outdoor storage in the I-P District. The Planner stated that he did not present a specific recommendation to the Planning Commission on that issue. He noted that the Planning Commission spent some time hearing fiom McGough Construction and what they would like to do with the Hillcrest Development property at 3250 Spruce Street which is zoned I-P District. Blesener noted that one of the objectives of the moratorium on outdoor storage in the I-P District was to consider whether or not to continue Chis use. LaValle stated thaC he would not be in favor of eliminating outdoor storage fi•om the I-P District. Allan indicated that she did not favor eliminating the outdoor storage use, but wanted to see it cleaned up and better controlled with improved fencing and screening. Montour felt that if additional screening requirements did not address the problems the City is having with outdoor storage, perhaps then the next step would be to eliminate the use. Blesener noted the consensus to retain outdoor storage as a conditional use in the I-P District. Blesener then noted the Planning Commission's recommendation with regard to screening of outdoor storage. Allan stated that she would like to see outdoor storage screened with fencing that is high enough to completely screen the materials behind the fence. LaValle felt it was not practical to construct fences high enough to screen everything. Allan noted that fencing can be placed on top of berms to provide for extra height. She also supported the use of landscape screening. Blesener felt that if a fence was too high, it had the appearance of a wall. Blesener felt that requiring fencing higher than 8 feet may be unreasonable given that the fencing would have to then be engineered to support wind loads. The City Planner began a review of his report dated May 20, 2005 relative to the outdoor storage provisions in the I-P District. He noted that the first