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MINUTES <br />PLANNING COMMISSION <br />SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 <br />18,000 square feet in warehouse space and 7,000 square feet in office. <br />The building is in the southwest corner of the site. There is a holding <br />pond in the southeast corner of the site. Mangine indicated that they will <br />adjust the fence to reduce the outdoor storage area to comply with the <br />City's Codes. He indicated that the storage area will be fenced and there <br />will be one gate area in and out. There will be landscaping screening <br />provided on the outside of the fence. He anticipated that at the maximum <br />they would have 125 cars in outdoor storage any one time, and they <br />allocate 275 to 300 square feet per vehicle. <br />Knudsen asked if there was barbed wire planned for the top of the fence. <br />Mangine replied that there is currently barbed wire on a portion of the <br />fence on the west side of the property. Mangine indicated that there plan <br />would be to erect a 10 -foot high fence around the outdoor storage area. <br />There will also be security cameras installed and a presence in the <br />building. The Ramsey County Board has allocated funding for lighting <br />and security at the site. <br />The City Planner indicated that the I -1 District allows a maximum fence <br />height of 8 feet. However, a CUP for a special purpose fence exceeding <br />the 8 foot maximum could be issued. It was noted that there is time <br />between this meeting and the City Council meeting on September 28th to <br />publish a hearing notice for a CUP for special purpose fence. <br />Knudsen asked why a 10 foot high fence is necessary. Schrier reported <br />that a 10 -foot high fence makes detection easier if someone is trying to <br />scale the fence to access the outdoor storage area. Knudsen indicated that <br />a 10 -foot high fence was preferable to him than an 8 -foot fence with <br />barbed wire. The Planner indicated that if the Commission is supportive <br />of the 10 -foot high fence, it could make a recommendation to the Council. <br />That recommendation should include a finding as to why the fence is <br />appropriate for this site and this use. <br />Schrier also pointed out that the County would like to be a good neighbor <br />and felt that a 10 -foot fence was preferable than a shorter fence with <br />barbed wire. Schrier pointed out that the County is protecting other <br />people's property, therefore, wants to ensure that the facility is secure. He <br />also pointed out the trail that runs adjacent to the site and indicated that the <br />aesthetics of the fence proposed would be more pleasing. <br />Knudsen asked if there was a high frequency of thefts from this type of <br />facility. Schrier reported that there is the potential since the area is <br />somewhat isolated. The County will be installing an alarm system and <br />camera system. Also, the higher the fence the longer it would take for <br />someone to scale it, increasing the potential of being caught. <br />-3- <br />