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<br /> MINUTES <br /> PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> DECEMBER 10, 2009 <br /> currently 40% vacant. Wagner indicated that he has had a lot of retail <br /> users approach him interested in building space. <br /> The City Planner described in detail the history of the property noting that <br /> it was originally zoned Business-Warehouse (BW) when occupied by <br /> Knox. This was the same zoning as the former Levitz property. At the <br /> time the BW District allowed for large warehouse/retail operations <br /> including furniture and lumber sales. "fhe City then changed the BW <br /> District making it more of a commercial office, office/warehouse, office/ <br /> showroom district. This change eliminated the pure retail use aspect. <br /> The Planner then described the Drywall Supply ownership of the property, <br /> their selling a portion of the site for development of the union hall, and <br /> Drywall Supply's move into the former Knox building. Drywall Supply <br /> then sold the former Knox building and moved to the south end of the <br /> property. "the property was rezoned to PUD during this time to <br /> accommodate the changes that were occurring allowing Drywall Supply to <br /> occupy a property that did not have direct street frontage as well as to <br /> allow the City to manage the uses on this site. <br /> The Planner noted that given the access to the Graba property and the fact <br /> that there are industrial uses to the south and west, the City has not viewed <br /> this property as a prime retail site. The PUD zoning was placed with the <br /> expectation that the use would be similar to the previous BW land uses, <br /> i.e. industrial, office/warehouse, office/showroom. <br /> The Planner then described the development considerations recently given <br /> for the Hom Furniture site allowing for more retail use of this site under its <br /> PUD zone than would have been allowed under the BW District. Given <br /> the similar characteristics of the Graba property, the Planner noted his <br /> recommendation outlined in his report dated December 3, 2009 to allow a <br /> similar set of retail uses for the Graba property as were allowed for Hom <br /> Furniture. <br /> Knudsen noted that the common element appears to be that these retail <br /> uses are not heavy traffic generators. The Planner replied that that was <br /> correct, although indicated that there are no guarantees as such. The <br /> Plvmer pointed out that the reason for uses that would not generate heavy <br /> traffic is the surrounding land uses in the area and the limited access to the <br /> site. <br /> )?verson asked what types of retail tenants have approached Wagner. <br /> Wagner replied that he has been approached by a mattress store and a sign <br /> company. He noted that Midwest Gymnastics use of the property by <br /> primarily children and indicated that they do not want any uses that would <br /> be adverse to this clientele. Knudsen noted that it would appear that both <br /> -2- <br /> <br />