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• • • WS — Item B WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item B Date: October 25, 2010 To: City Council From: Jeff Smyser Re: Outdoor Storage Business in General Business Zoning District Background We have received a request to allow an outdoor storage business on a property in a GB General Business zoning district. Outdoor storage businesses currently are not allowed under the zoning ordinance. An application to amend the ordinance requires an application and a fee. Staff told the property owner that we would discuss the issue with the Planning & Zoning Board and the City Council. If there is no support for the zoning ordinance amendment, it would be a waste of the application fee. If, however, the idea is viewed favorably, the property owner could submit an application and we would get the ball rolling. The question is whether or not the community believes that outdoor storage businesses are appropriate in a commercial zone. To be clear: • The proposal is to have an outdoor area where the public can pay to store their vehicles, boats, and other possessions. The proposal includes fencing the storage area. • The business —the principal use —would be outdoor storage. • This differs from a business that has accessory outdoor storage associated with it. • However, both principal and accessory outdoor storage currently are prohibited in GB zones. Amending the zoning ordinance to allow this use in a GB zone would allow it on all properties zoned GB, not just an individual property. The Planning & Zoning Board discussed this issue on October 13. The P & Z Board unanimously opposed allowing outdoor storage businesses in the GB zone. There was some support for considering such uses in industrial zones, but not commercial zones.