01-28-2004 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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grandfather status for our pre - existing parking usage. Our historical usage of the site fits zoning category B -4 which permits outdoor storage. o In meetings with city staff regarding this issue, we offered to submit a conditional use permit application for overnight storage as well as plant trees along the west side of our property to provide vegetative screening along Rice Street. City staff indicated that a text amendment to our zoning categorization would be prepared. Although we believe our grandfather status should make us exempt from applying for a CUP, we made the application and committed to the screening in the spirit of cooperation and good faith. We did not provide a formal survey and site plan because city staff told us we didn't have to. Given that the planting of trees along the Rice Street side of our property is a straightforward task, we believe the information we did submit is reasonable and appropriate. o Our substation is surrounded by other industrial uses, some of which also park vehicles overnight on their property. Our usage is compatible and consistent with the properties immediately surrounding our site. o No residents from Little Canada appeared before the Planning Commission to oppose our application. City staff has told us that they have received written and verbal complaints regarding our truck parking at the substation. To date, we have not received any information regarding these complaints. If there are complaints, we believe we could resolve them if we had the opportunity to deal directly with the persons who have raised concerns. In light of these facts, we request approval of our CUP application. We believe this would be a win -win outcome, one that results in a vegetative screen of spruce trees along Rice Street and that provides for us to continue to efficiently serve our customers' needs for reliable, cost - effective electricity. We recognize the city's interest in the operational and visual impacts of our facility and we remain committed to work with the city and residents to resolve these concerns. The following is a more in -depth response to issues raised by the city's planning commission and Mr. Grittman: We Use Numerous Metro Area Staging Sites A question was raised during the recent planning commission meeting as to why Asplundh vehicles were parked at our substation site rather than their corporate office building in Spring Lake Park, MN. Both Wright Tree Service and Asplundh are authorized contractors of Xcel Energy and crews are managed by Xcel Energy employees.