01-26-2000 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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N INC MEMORANDUM NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS COMMUNITY PLANNING - DESIGN - MARKET RESEARCH TO: Little Canada Planning Commission FROM: Stephen Grittman DATE: January 12, 2000 RE: FILE NO: Little Canada - Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Motor Vehicle Sales Lots 758.10 - 00.02 The City Council directed staff and the Planning Commission to review the standards applied to motor vehicle sales lots following the request of Valor Enterprises for a sales license in Ryan Industrial Park. The issue in that case was the required separation for licensed locations, 500 feet in the case of the industrial district (B -W and 1 -1) and 2,000 feet in the case of the commercial districts (B -2 and B -4). The ordinance was originally adopted at a time when the City was experiencing a significant enforcement problem with existing sales lots, and a proliferation of motor vehicle sales lots which had minimal regulation. To regulate this use, the City adopted an ordinance which: limited the potential for clustering of sales lots (determined to create a negative impression), limited the total number of such lots, which, since they were deemed to be an inefficient use of scarce development land, established a series of clear site improvement regulations designed to avoid a blighted site if a permit was approved. Motor vehicle sales has continued to be a problem in some areas, particularly in the industrial areas where vehicle storage has been one of the primary aesthetic issues. To help determine how Little Canada's regulation of motor vehicle sales compared to nearby communities, City Staff conducted a brief survey. All seven communities contacted regulate motor vehicle sales lots through Conditional Use Permits, although each appears 5775 WAYZATA BOULEVARE PHONE 612-595-9636 F. -- "LUIS PARK, MINNESOTA 55416 Page 102 E -MAIL NAC@a WINTERNET.COM