07-09-2025 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 5. Number of Students Standard: The home occupation shall not involve teaching which customarily consists of more than one (1) pupil at a time Request: The applicants are requesting to allow up to 25 individuals, including youth participants, coaches, and other affiliated persons, to be present on the property during daily practices. APPLICANT NARRATIVE The applicants provided a narrative outlining the background and mission of Lake Phalen Rowing, a non-profit organization that promotes youth participation in rowing. The club was founded in 2020 and currently serves 22 co-ed youth athletes aged 13 to 19. Practices are led by two volunteer coaches, with sessions held once daily during the school year from 4:30 to 6:00 PM and during the summer from 8:00 to 10:00 AM. While the club has offered limited adult programming, the applicants indicate that participation is infrequent and not a consistent part of current operations. The applicants are the parents of two participants and state that they do not receive compensation or serve in any official capacity with the club. They are offering their property as a temporary, secure location for launching and storing rowing equipment. They anticipate use of the property for this purpose through 2029, which aligns with their youngest child’s high school graduation. The applicants note that the club has previously explored securing access to public facilities at Lake Phalen, Spoon Lake, and Gervais Park, and would welcome the City’s support in identifying a longer-term solution. No alterations to the home are proposed. Equipment is stored in the rear yard near the shoreline, and volunteer coaches park in the side driveway during practices. Participants are expected to park off-site at Little Canada City Hall and walk to the residence. The applicants also noted that they are pursuing native landscaping improvements in coordination with Ramsey County, though these efforts are not directly related to the home occupation request. OUTSIDE AGENCY REVIEW City staff contacted the Ramsey County Water Patrol to clarify applicable regulations related to noise and commercial activity on Lake Gervais. Ramsey County staff confirmed that there are no county- level noise ordinances for the lake. As a result, concerns related to amplified sound, including the use of a megaphone during practices, fall under the City’s jurisdiction. This clarification was prompted by neighbor reports regarding megaphone use during youth rowing practices. In this case, the megaphone is used by coaches following rowers in a motorized launch on the lake. While the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulates mechanical noise generated by boat engines and exhaust systems, it does not address amplified voice or instructional noise produced from vessels or from the shoreline. Staff understands that in many other counties across Minnesota, lake-related noise is regulated at the county level. Ramsey County appears to be an exception in deferring this responsibility to local municipalities. The Water Patrol also noted that any watercraft used for commercial purposes on public lakes— regardless of whether the activity is for-profit or non-profit—must be inspected by their office to ensure compliance with boating safety standards.