06-20-2016 Special Meeting Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 20, 2016 Tri-State Bobcat owner, Bill Quirk, stated that this would be the third building that they have bought, remodeled, and improved the site to meet their concept. He explained that he will purchase and remodel the 40,000 square foot building, and add a lot of landscaping and screening. He noted that the fencing shown in the parking lot is seven feet tall and not see- through. He stated that the perimeter fence is a coated chain-link with the landscape screening on the outside to hide the site very well from the neighborhood. He noted that the adjacent homes are lower than this site so a six foot fence would probably be enough, and his business is only open during the weekdays from 7:OOam to 5:OOpm, and Saturday mornings. He explained there would be outdoor storage inside the parking lot fenced area for their equipment vehicles. Mr. Quirk stated that they would have 8,000 to 10,000 square feet of indoor showroom, plus 500 square feet set aside to bring equipment inside for a customer to look. He explained there would be another 8,000 to 10,000 square feet of indoor storage because winter deteriorates their equipment. He stated that the parking lot fenced area would be used most for new equipment, ten percent for service and a little for equipment rental. Mr. Quirk explained that all of their administrative work is done at their Burnsville store. He stated that he anticipates about twenty-five employees at this site, and he expects to do about fifty percent more business from this new site because of the better location and visibility. He explained that delivery trucks will enter from the east driveway off of Minnesota Avenue, unload in the front on the east side of the building, and exit out the same driveway. He noted it would take about nine months to complete the construction. The City Planner stated there are two zoning issues regarding this proposal. He explained that the City's Comprehensive Plan calls for this parcel to be a commercial use, and the site is currently zoned B-3, General Business. He noted that this land use would typically be in an industrial area, especially with the outdoor storage, which isn't allowed in B-3 zoning districts. He stated that a shared -access agreement may need to be done, a Planned Unit Development zone should be created here, and the Planned Unit Development section of the City Code will have to be amended to make this work. The City Planner stated that in core commercial areas, the structures should look like a typical commercial building with varying roof lines, architectural designs so the front is not one big flat wall, and windows, so that if the tenant changes in the future, it does not look like an industrial building. He noted that B-3 and Planned Unit Development zoning does not allow auto -related service, but Tri- State does not fall into that category. Keis asked if a car dealer could come in to this site in the future. The City Planner stated that with a 00