10/13/2010 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Board October 13, 2010 Page 2 APPROVED MINUTES V. ACTION ITEMS A. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING to consider amending the Z oning Ordinance to add requirements for Temporary Outdoor Sales Lots, Farmer’s Markets, and Community Gardens City Planner, Jeff Smyser, presented the staff repo rt. COMMUNITY GARDENS Board Members were overall supportive of allowing c ommunity gardens in the city. They acknowledged that community gardens are succes sful in other cities, and may be a benefit to the community and an opportunity for res idents to meet each other. Board members suggested that the city could start with a temporary location and if successful, consider a permanent location for the future. Some concerns included: • Neighboring commercial businesses may consider a co mmunity garden as blight on a commercial lot. The City should protect exist ing businesses and consider allowing neighboring businesses the ability to peti tion against the use. • Once a use has been allowed on a property, it is of ten hard to remove the use. • Parking and traffic flow. • What is City’s liability? What city services will be needed and costs associated? • Who will provide and pay for water service? • Who would administer the garden? City staff or a v olunteer organization? How much staff involvement? • Could it hinder future development of the property? City would need to make it clear that the garden is a temporary use, possibly by use of signage on the property. • Residents who participate in the garden would need to be aware that the property may be developed at some time at which time the gar den will be removed. Staff agreed to draft policy language for community gardens that address the concerns of the board to bring back to the next meeting for rev iew. Chair Tralle reopened the Public Hearing at 6:54 p.m. FARMER’S MARKETS Staff explained that a Farmer’s Market could be all owed with a Special Event Permit that the city currently issues. Specific zoning distric ts could be defined for this use.