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northwest associated consultants, inc. <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Little Canada Planning Commission <br />FROM: Ken Roberts /Steve Grittman <br />DATE: April 6, 1988 <br />RE: Little Canada - Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Accessory Apartments <br />FILE NO: 758.09 - 88.22 <br />In response to a request from Mr. Jack Welch, a Registered Architect, our office <br />has conducted research into the possibility of permitting accessory apartments <br />in commercial buildings in Little Canada. The City zoning ordinance as it now <br />reads would allow a similar idea in the R -B Zoning District. This, however, <br />presents the potential for problems as such a plan would require a rezoning <br />every time a person would request it to make it legal. If such rezonings were <br />granted, they might be considered spot zoning and probably would be poor policy <br />decisions. <br />The use of home occupations in such instances is clearly not appropriate in such <br />requests as they intent of this, if the City feels that it is an acceptable <br />idea, is to permit accessory apartments in commercial districts. Home occupa- <br />tions are really intended to be the opposite of that. That is, permitting a <br />small commercial operation in a residential district. Accessory apartments <br />do not meet this. <br />If the City feels that accessory apartment in commercial districts are an <br />acceptable use, than our office would suggest using the attached draft zoning <br />ordinance amendment. This permits such a use in the B -3 Zoning District <br />with a conditional use permit. The use of a conditional use permit in this <br />process provides the City a great amount of control in reviewing such applica- <br />tions. <br />The ordinance as drafted permits accessory apartments in all locations of the <br />B -3 Zoning District. This is quite broad in that this encompasses most of the <br />business area in the City. If the City chooses to adopt such an ordinance <br />revision, they may wish to limit to certain types of uses or activities where <br />ORD. 298 <br />Page 63 <br />4601 excelsior blvd., ste. 410, minneapolis, mn 55416 <br />(61 2) 925 -9420 <br />