09-12-2013 Planning Comm. Minutes

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 With regard to Motor Vehicles Sales, Indoor, the Planner noted that businesses with both Indoor Sales Licenses and Auto Repair Licenses may be utilizing the indoor space reserved for vehicle display for other purposes, moving the vehicles for sale outdoors. He noted that it is difficult for code enforcement staff to distinguish between vehicles for sale and vehicles waiting for repair, and in some cases, there may not be a difference. The Planner noted that in addition to the City issuing an indoor sales license, one is required by the State. Part of the State licensing process requires the City to sign off on a zoning verification form certifying that the property is properly zoned, there is office space for the business, and that there is an indoor display area for five vehicles. The Planner reviewed the current City Code language with regard to indoor motor vehicles sales as well as the proposed changes that he is recommending. The Planner noted that the changes are intended to ensure that the building is set up to accommodate the indoor auto sales use as well as to provide code enforcement with a means of verifying Code compliance. Duray noted recommendation #6 in the Planner's report that would require the sales /display floor area being separated from the other uses by a permanent solid wall no less than four feet in heights. Duray asked about building materials. The City Planner indicated that the building materials would have to comply with building code requirements. He also noted that a four foot wall would be less expense to construct than a complete physical separation. This half -wall will create a division that will clearly define floor area for the various uses, i.e. indoor auto sales, auto repair. The Planner also noted that recommendation #7 requires the sales /display floor area consist of 200 square foot per vehicle and no less than 1,000 square feet. He noted that 1,000 square feet will be a tight fit for 5 vehicles, but indicated that he did not want to make this requirement more onerous than necessary. The Planner again pointed out that the State requires 5 indoor sales /display spaces for indoor retail licenses. Fischer asked the impact of these regulations on current businesses, if adopted. The City Planner replied that existing business owners with indoor sales licenses would be grandfathered in as long as they are in compliance with the terms of their original Conditional Use Permits. Duray asked if there was a limit on the number of indoor sales licenses. The Planner replied that there was not. The Planner noted that the City put the indoor sales /display license in place given the types of auto - related uses in Ryan Industrial Park and the fact that outdoor sales licenses were limited. -2-