07-27-1994 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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FAc Northwest Associated Consultants, Inc. 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: 12 July 1994 RE: Little Canada - Suburban Auto Body Expansion FILE NO: 758.09 - 94.18 Background Suburban Auto Body has requested an amendment to the text of the Industrial Park District (I -P) to re- introduce auto body facilities into the I -P District. When the District was created in the late 1980s, it adopted most of the uses allowed in the I -1 District, with the specific exceptions of building contractor's shops and auto body repair. Suburban Auto would now like to expand its facilities to better enclose its painting operations and reorganize its interior facilities. The Zoning Ordinance does not permit the expansion of non - conforming uses, which Suburban would be classified as of the date of its rezoning to the I -P District. Analysis Suburban has two primary problems with the Zoning Ordinance standards. The I -P District does-not permit the use of metal exterior construction, except that an exemption is made for existing metal structures expanding by less than 25% of gross floor area. Suburban's building expansion exceeds the 25% threshold, except that the building facade improvements appear to conform to the I -P requirements. The primary problem, however, is the expansion of the non - conforming use, for which there is no exemption. In order for Suburban to proceed with its project, it must either revert to I -1 Zoning, where auto body repair is permitted, or succeed in its amendment of the Ordinance to include the use in the I -P District. Page 104 5775 Wayzata Blvd. • Suite 555 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (612) 595-9636-Fax. 595 -9837