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5 <br />PUBLIC COMMENT <br />Staff mailed notice of the request to all property owners within 350 feet of the subject site and <br />provided a PDF copy of the notice to the Lake Gervais Association. <br /> <br />As of the publication of this agenda packet, staff have received ten written public comments. Five <br />commenters expressed support for the application, while five expressed opposition. Several <br />commenters submitted photos illustrating concerns related to traffic and equipment storage. These <br />materials are included in the meeting packet for reference. <br /> <br />The primary concerns raised by those opposed to the application are summarized as follows: <br /> <br />1. Noise – Commenters expressed frustration with the use of a megaphone during practices and <br />reported instances of profanity or disrespectful language. <br /> <br />2. Street Parking – Some neighbors observed participants or visitors parking along the street, <br />contrary to the applicant’s proposed arrangement. <br /> <br />3. Equipment Storage – The storage of boats and related equipment on the property was described <br />as excessive and visually intrusive. <br /> <br />4. Accuracy of Application – Commenters alleged that rowing activity has occurred more <br />frequently than indicated in the application, including multiple sessions per day. <br /> <br />5. Lake Access and Safety – Several residents expressed concern that the number of rowers on the <br />lake at once has made it more difficult for others to navigate or use the lake safely. <br /> <br />STAFF FINDINGS <br />To reiterate, the stated purpose of the Home Occupation standards is: <br /> <br />"To prevent competition with business districts and to provide a means, through the establishment of <br />specific standards and procedures, by which home occupations can be conducted in residential <br />neighborhoods without jeopardizing the health, safety, and general welfare of the surrounding <br />neighborhood." <br /> <br />Staff interprets this purpose statement as emphasizing the importance of maintaining compatibility <br />with the surrounding residential character and protecting the general well-being of nearby properties. <br />With this in mind, Staff offers the following findings related to the requested deviations from the <br />general requirements for home occupations: <br /> <br />1. To Permit Exterior Storage of Items Related to The Occupation <br />The City Code permits the unscreened exterior storage of recreational equipment on residential <br />properties. It is not uncommon for shoreland properties to have some degree of watercraft or <br />recreational equipment storage near the shoreline, particularly for personal use. <br /> <br />In this case, however, the quantity and scale of equipment stored on the property, including <br />multiple storage racks and more than a dozen rowing shells, exceeds what is typical for a <br />single-family residence. The home occupation standards are intended to mitigate the visual and <br />functional impacts of business-like operations on residential properties. <br /> <br />Staff finds that the current location of the storage, its proximity to the shoreline, and the height <br />of the racks create a noticeable visual impact on neighboring properties. Some degree of