09-03-13 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

standards will be necessary. LI uses include service industries and industries which manufacture, fabricate, assemble or store, where the process is not likely to create offensive noise, vibrations, dust, heat, smoke, odor, glare, or other objectionable influences. Generally, these include wholesale, service and light industries which are dependent upon raw materials refined elsewhere. No new land shall be zoned LI, Light Industrial unless the site or area lies within the y sewer and municipal water is available. The existing container and trailer storage business represents an extreme departure from this purpose. Outdoor storage as a principal use is commonly seen as the lowest form of industrial use. It is a low value use. Storage areas have little to no improvements and therefore generate minimal tax value when compared to a typical industrial facility with building improvements. They also have the effect of making surrounding areas less valuable for development purposes. Once legally established, they are also extremely difficult to eliminate. Staff does acknowledge that land allowed for outdoor storage is in high demand. This is because most cities have eliminated or severely restricted the allowance for outdoor storage in their ordinances for the reasons listed above. It is fairly common for these types of uses to move to outer ring suburban and rural areas because of lower land values and less restrictive requirements. In 2011, the City Council initiated a review of our industrial district requirements specifically related to outdoor storage. This review resulted in the amendment of the zoning ordinance to allow additional flexibility for outdoor storage as an accessory use but stopped short of allowing it as a principal use. There was some discussion at the council work session that the property in question would have little to no other alternative uses if the current container business is disallowed. Staff disagrees with this statement. The property can be used for any of the uses permitted or allowed by conditional use in the LI, Light Industrial Districts (see attachment). Public sanitary sewer and water utilities are available to service the site. In this case, the property is in no different position than any other property located in the Citys industrial areas. The property may require additional investment, such as connection to municipal services, in order to be sold, but that should not be used as a reason to relax zoning standards for the property. Continued use of the property for outdoor container and trailer storage would require an amendment to the City Zoning Ordinance. This type of use is not appropriate for the LI, Light Industrial District and staff would not recommend consideration of such a proposal. Requested Council Direction Staff is requesting council direction regarding abatement of the nonconforming use of property located at 7309 Lake Drive. Attachments 1.General Vicinity Map 2.LI Zoning District Uses