04-10-08 Planning Comm. Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 10, 2008 about such a limitation on the part of the property owners. Staff had additional discussions relative to this issue, and suggested that an additional class of auto repair license be added, that is a "Salvage Vehicle Repair" license. This license would apply to auto repair facilities that reconstruct vehicles out of parts of vehicles or that use clips of vehicles for parts in the reconstruction or repair of vehicles. Staff has noted that it is this type of auto repair business that causes the majority of code enforcement problems. It is also being proposed that this class of auto repair license be limited to a maximum of four, which is the number that of this type of business that the City currently has. There would be no limit placed on the other classes of auto repair licenses. All auto repair licenses would, however, require a Conditional Use Permit. The Planner continued his review of the proposed ordinance amendment noting that the biggest change is the addition of a series of specific regulations for outdoor storage by Conditional Use Permit. The Planner noted that while the current ordinance standards for outdoor storage are vague, the standards proposed clarifies outdoor storage as accessory to a principal use as well as established the specific standards outlined in Section G. 1. through 16. Knudsen noted that the brokering of outdoor storage would not be acceptable under the ordinance. The City Planner replied that this is correct noting that even under the current ordinance standards outdoor storage must be accessory to a principal use of the property. The Planner indicated that some of the property owners present this evening will ask that this limitation be removed from the Code. The Planner stated that his recommendation is that the ordinance be adopted as presented this evening. Knudsen felt that the establishment of the "Salvage Vehicle Repair" license was a good solution. He noted that the City has struggled with ways to limit certain types of outdoor storage and keep problem uses out without penalizing property owners trying to conduct their businesses and without legislating the market place. Duray asked about the adoption of license fees for both the Salvage Vehicle Repair license as well as the Outdoor Storage license. The City Planner indicated that the City Council typically sets license fees, and indicated that these licenses will likely be annual licenses. Duray felt that the license fees should be kept as low as possible given the current difficult business climate. Socha stated that she agrees that the establishment of the Salvage Vehicle Repair license is a good solution. Socha felt, however, that outdoor storage should not be limited to an accessory use, and felt that if one property owner needed additional outdoor storage area, that business should be able -3-