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MINti TES <br />C11 Y COUNCIL <br />AUGUST 11, 1999 <br />CLAP FOR OPEN <br />AND OI 1'DOOR <br />STORAGE — <br />3176 SPRUCE <br />STREET — <br />VALENTO <br />Mayor Fahey opened the continued pubiic hearing to consider an application <br />for Conditional Use Permit for open and outdoor storage of equipment, <br />materials, and car stora<_>e at 3176 Spruce Street. Fahey noted that there are <br />two issues to be addressed, the first being the parking requirement and the <br />second the junk yard issue. Fahey acknowledged that the property has been <br />cleaned up and asked if the remaining equipment and materials are screened if <br />this would meet the City's Code requirements. <br />The Zoning Administrator replied that the zoning ordinance does not allow auto <br />salvage yards even with a Conditional Use Permit. Morelan asked if auto <br />salvage were allowed in any of the City's zoning districts. The Zoning <br />Administrator replied that it is not. <br />Valento reported that when he purchased the property in 1979, the intended use <br />was exactly as it is today. Valento reported that the City granted a building <br />permit for the property. Valento pointed out that the Code says there can be no <br />junk cars stored on a property, and he claimed there are none at 3179 Spruce <br />Street. <br />Fahey asked for an explanation of the pictures of this particular property and <br />why the cars shown in the pictures would not be considered junk or salvage cars. <br />Steve Carlson, Benchmark Auto and tenant at the site, reported that he is in the <br />auto recycling business. Carlson explained that business to the Council <br />reporting that when he purchases a damaged vehicle for repair, he then must buy <br />clips of cars and other parts to be used on the repairable vehicles. In using clips <br />of cars, some parts are used immediately and then the clip retained to use parts <br />for future repairables. What is left is then transported to a scrap yard. <br />Pedersen asked if the issue was the use or the visibility of the outdoor storage. <br />Fahey indicated that the questions appears to be the use. Fahey noted that a <br />building permit was issued for this property in 1979 and not a permit for the <br />business. The problem arises in that the City has been lax in conducting code <br />enforcement over the past 20 years. Fahey noted that the 1964 Code, which was <br />in effect in 1979, only allowed outdoor storage by a special use permit. There is <br />no record of this property ever being issued a special use permit. <br />Fahey indicated that Mr. Carlson could continue to conduct his auto repair <br />business. The issue is that the parrs he is storing on the properry would have to <br />be moved to another location outside Little Canada. The question is whether the <br />Ciry is going to allow auto salvage yards in Little Canada. <br />- 3 4 - <br />