04-27-1999 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Page 2 March 24, 1959 related businesses in the area, to raise the bar so to speak. We feel that this area could definitely use some improvement in appearance. We need office space, parking for four tow trucks (we own 4), parking for 3-4 employees max. at any given time (George and Jared drive their trucks home) and storage for impounded vehicles, we are asking for 25-35 spaces as explained in detail later in this letter. Previous estimates given by Mr. Carle were not accurate due to miscommunication on our part. There are two areas that seem to concem the planning commission the most, on -going compliance issues at this property and out door storage of vehicles. First, the compliance issues, we are working very closely with Jerry Carle, the property owner, to resolve the current compliance issues. It is important for you to know that we are in the process of buying the entire property and landscaping supply business from Mr. Carle. We are here for the long haul; we want to be a great neighbor and an asset to the community. As far as the current issues with the property, you have our word and commitment that they are being attended to. Mr. Carle is giving a schedule of compliance to Ms. Mursko this week. Second, out door storage of impounded vehicles. It seems that when this request was made, visions of junkyards, a St. Paul City sized impound lot, and tow trucks up and down Country Dr. all day and ail night, danced in everyone's head, and the only objection was that as people passed at 60 -75 mph on the interstate, they could see the property and cars. And that this use was not in keeping with the "vision' for this area held by the planning commission. The city's zoning official at the planning commission meeting stated that "if there was anywhere in the city to do this, it would be there ". Again, any reasonable person would expect a use such as this to be appropriate given the established uses here. The vehicles would not be visible to anyone, except those an the interstate driving 60-75 mph on the curve from 694 west bound to 35E southbound. We did not ask for the storage for 25 -35 cars with the bait and switch tactic in mind, you know, ask for 25 and throw 125 in there. In fact we asked for more than we ever, except in extreme circumstances, need. The impounding of vehicles represents about 3% of our total revenue. The other 97% of our business is consensual towing and services, helping people when they need it the most. We average 160 calls a week, of those,. 2 -5 might be private property impounds. Private property meaning the removal of unwanted vehicles from someone's home, business, or apartment complex. 95% of these vehicles are paid for and picked by the owners within 24 hours. The reason that we requested so many spots for storage is that in the winter when apartment complexes need to plow their lots, they some times have to impound several cars. So having agreements with lets say 10 apartment complexes, we have to have the capacity to store several cars. Again 95% of these cars are with us for Tess than 24 hours. The remainder are sold to a scrap yard in St Paul or auctioned at Wrecker Services in Minneapolis. Another factor to consider is this, barring having a contractor in this area doing business, complexes such as Montreal Courts would and have used Cedar Towing, Gopher Towing and other companies which require people to travel extended distances with- out their car to retrieve their car. Also, our impound fees are 25% or more less than Page 12