03-26-2007 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, INC. 4800 Olson Memorial Highway, Suite 202, Golden Valley, MN 55422 Telephone: 763.231 .2555 Facsimile: 763.231 .2561 planners(anacplanning.com MEMORANDUM TO: Little Canada Planning Commission FROM: Stephen Grittman DATE: March 5, 2007 RE: Little Canada — Voyageur Motors CUP Amendment FILE NO: 758.09 — 07.13 Background and Analysis Voyageur Motors has been sold to a new operator who is seeking an amendment to the CUP to allow for both outdoor storage and motor vehicle repair. The original permit granted to Voyageur Motors was for Auto Sales — Indoor, with no on -site repair or outdoor storage proposed. At the time the permit for Voyageur was granted, one of the primary factors in the City's consideration of the permit was the lack of repair activities and the promise of no outdoor storage. As the City is aware, these activities have been a significant component of the City's code enforcement concerns in the Ryan Industrial Park area. The applicant supports his request by pointing out that the repair activities on the site would be for resell vehicles only — they are not proposing to conduct repairs for outside clients. The applicant further states that their need for outdoor storage would be for a maximum of 8 vehicles on a short -term basis. They suggest that they would construct a screening fence for this activity. The site plan that was submitted with the application does not identify the location of the storage, or the type of screening that would be proposed. The City is currently reconsidering its allowance and regulation of outdoor storage in the 1 -1 District. While this discussion is just beginning, it is assumed that components of the ordinance to be changed will include a relationship between the amount of indoor space and outdoor storage, and an increased set of screening requirements. The Voyageur Motors space in the subject building appears to be approximately 2,300 square feet, slightly more than one - fourth of the building. One option to consider would be a limitation on outdoor storage area equal to the amount of indoor building space. The applicant would need to submit a site plan that identifies where the proposed storage area would be located, and how it would be managed to ensure that only the allowed amount of storage area would be maintained.