01-28-2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 28, 2004 Permit request. Jurek emphasized Xcel's historical usage of the site for outdoor storage which she claimed has not changed since 1955 or 1956. Jurek also noted that while the property is currently zoned B-3 and that this zoning district does not allow for outdoor storage. However, the City's Zoning Code was adopted in approximately 1964, and Jurek questioned whether the City took into consideration Xcel's historical use of the property. Jurek noted that Xcel is agreeable to planting vegetative screening on the west side of the property to screen the outdoor storage use. Anderson asked the number of substations that Xcel Energy has. Dennis Fallon, Xcel's Vegetation Management Department, replied that Xcel has at least 36 substations in the metro east territory and that tree trimming vehicles are stored at at least 12 of these stations. Fallon reported that Xcel does tree trimming on a year-round basis, but does rotate the substation location that equipment is parked at. Anderson noted the Planning Commission discussion that about whether or not tree trimming equipment was an accessory use of the substation use. Anderson asked what Xcel considered to be integral to the operation of the substation. Jurek indicated that line maintenance, which includes the tree trimming operation, is integral to the substation use. Anderson noted that for the 50 years that Xcel has owned this property, it appears that the outdoor storage use has been inconsistent or intermittent. Anderson questioned whether the grandfather rights that Xcel is claiming for the outdoor storage use would continue to apply given this inconsistent usage. Fahey asked if Xcel has utilized this property consistently for outdoor storage of u-ee trimming equipment since the 1950's. Jurek reported that Xcel has had other vehicle parking on this property including vegetation management vehicles since it has owned the property. She noted that tree trimming work is somewhat cyclical and usually occurs from six to nine months each year. There have been periods of time when there has been no outdoor storage at the site. It wa: noted that initially Xcel had their own tree trimming crews, and have been outsourcing this work since the early 1970's. Faliey noted that while Xcel considers these independent tree contractors as their agents, to the City of Little Canada they are independent tree contractors utilizing the Xcel property to store their equipment. Fahey stated that he was not in favor of allowing Xcel to conduct outdoor storage in the B-3 Zoning District as this would open the door for other outdoor storage requests.