09-25-1991 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Northwest Associated Consultants, Inc. C j U R B A N P L A N N I N G • D E S I G N • M A R K E T R E S E A R C H MEMORANDUM TO: Little Canada Planning Commission FROM: Stephen Grittman DATE: 5 August 1991 RE: Little Canada - Outside Sales /Display FILE NO: 758.09 - 91.20 There have been concerns raised over the City's regulation of outside sales and display. The Zoning Ordinance allows such activities in B -2 and B -3 Districts by Conditional Use Permit. However, several local retailers have begun to display certain goods outside of their establishments. This issue is being brought as a discussion item prior to formulating any Ordinance amendments. In general, ordinances which regulate outdoor sales or display are set up to be somewhat burdensome in order to discourage the activity. This is because such sales areas do not add Lo the tax revenue of the property, but may increase public service requirements, e.g. police calls for shoplifting. In addition, outdoor sales and display areas typically require controls to avoid blocking or cluttering visibility of the building, encroaching on sidewalk space planned for pedestrian circulation or traffic hazards slating to sudden stops or intersection visibility. The other issue which bears on the City's consideration of outdoor sales is the permanence or transience of the use. The former case is typified by convenience gas /grocery facilities which store or display motor oil or other similar items near the pump islands or on the sidewalk. Our feeling is that since these uses must be approved through the conditional use process, the outside sales /display should either be a part of their approval or if added later, should be evaluated as an amendment to the original CUP. Therefore, the process is no more burdensome than anything else they may want to do to their property. However, it would be possible to add a section in the General Provisions of the Ordinance which regulated the activity, but avoided the CUP process for those uses which are permitted themselves. 5775 Wayzata Blvd. • Suite 555 • St. Louis Park, MN 55416 • (612) 595- 9636•Fax. 595 -9837 Page 55