04-10-2014 Planning Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 10, 2014 Lee reported that it was in February of 2014 that the Vang's discovered that the property had lost its non- conforming status. Lee reported that the Vang's are interested in continuing to use the structure as a duplex. She reported that each unit is completely independent of the other and there is no internal access between the two units. Vang reported that the structure has been used as a duplex for over 37 years. Lee indicated that she has reviewed the City's Comp Plan, and felt that in light of the information contained in the Comp Plan, the Rezoning request is a reasonable one. Lee noted that the City is fully developed and the Comp Plan talks about the City's intention to grow its population. Given there is not a lot of vacant property that can be developed in Little Canada, the Rezoning to R -2 and use of this structure as a duplex allows two new families to occupy the property. Lee noted that the Vang's are not asking to change the exterior physical features of structure; they would renovate the interior. She noted that the structure has been vacant for a number of years and there is a lot to be done to improve it. Lee also reported that she has looked at similar properties in the area and found duplexes located in fully developed residential areas in the City. Fischer noted that the Vang's have expressed in their application that they are real estate investors who remodel and repurpose properties to make great opportunities for people. Fischer suggested, however, that as real estate investors, the Vang's should have made the appropriate inquiries as to the status of the property. My Lee indicated that the Vang's relied on the Ramsey County tax records. She also indicated that she looked at the City's address file for this property and there was no documentation in the address file that the property lost is legal non- conforming status. Lee stated that if the question is whether or not the Vang's did their due diligence, there were no records to indicate the loss of legal non- conforming status other than to review the City's Codes and Ordinances. Duray asked how long the property has been vacant. The City Planner replied that it has been vacant for more than three years. Maleitzke asked how the fact that the property was vacant was verified. The Planner noted that the City has had numerous Code enforcement issues with this property over the past several years. He explained that the City has had to board up the structure after incidents of vandalism and it has been clearly evident that the property has been vacant. The City has also had to do maintenance of this property during this same time period. Murphy asked if the real estate agent for this property was aware that the legal non - conforming use had lapsed. Lee reported that the legal non- conforming use does not appear in the title work for this property, nor did she recall that the title work showed zoning of the property. - 3 -