02/24/2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 24, 2003 APROVED II1 several sections from the Comprehensive Plan, many addressing buffer zones and performance 2 standards. She stated that as you read through the Comprehensive Plan, it refers to neighborhood 3 plans, in support of the Planning and Zoning recommendation. 4 5 Councilmember O'Donnell stated he has a different view, but will support the decision. He stated he 6 tends to believe this decision is market driven, but he will do this knowing it will put off any new 7 neighborhood business facilities in the City, which is okay, but he needs to go into it with that 8 understanding. 9 10 Mayor Bergeson reminded the Council there were two issues, indicating he wants to separate the two. 11 He indicated one is what is appropriate for a Neighborhood Business district, the other concerns two 12 specific sites, and he thinks it is wrong to get that mixed up in a zoning ordinance. He stated he has a 13 different view, and does not think motor fuel stations are inappropriate in a Neighborhood Business 14 district, in the right scope and size, adding they are meant to service the neighborhood, and if 15 appropriate in size, they could work. He indicated size could be controlled by regulating the number 16 of pumps. He stated that if all the adjoining cities were having the discussion they are having, there is 17 the potential to not have any stations at County Road J, or other places, or the potential not to have a 18 gas station for two or three or five miles. He reiterated he does not believe it is inappropriate for a 19 Neighborhood Business district. He asked if this was removed, is a Neighborhood Business district 20 even viable. He indicated Councilmember Carlson talked about Blaine and other areas who have 21 done this, but all have a major anchor. He stated when you are talking about strip malls, the gas I22 station is usually the anchor, and with too many restrictions, this becomes a non -classification. 23 24 Mayor Bergeson stated he is also concerned about the tax base in the city, which is always better with 25 commercial property. He indicated the City Council has put things in place to reduce residential 26 development, and if they reduce commercial development also, it will put a strain on everyone's tax 27 bill. 28 29 Councilmember Reinert indicated it boils down to what is reasonable. He does not want to eliminate 30 all gas stations and have to drive somewhere else, but he does not want to see them on every corner, 31 either. He indicated if the Council does not have tools to regulate, some of the best corners in the city 32 will become gas stations. He agreed it might slow down development, but could position the city for 33 something else more desirable and unique that would not have a chance if all the corners are taken by 34 gas stations. He stated they allowed a station at Spirit Hills, but he would have liked a more 35 comprehensive plan of what was viable on that corner, but that was not possible. He indicated if the 36 Council had a tool to regulate, he goes back to Councilmember O'Donnell's comment about getting 37 something unique. He indicated the Council could always zone it back to regular commercial if they 38 decided a station should go there. 39 40 Councilmember Dahl stated she believes competition is good, for price and because it can bring 41 something better, but when you flood the market, it is not good. She asked how many gas stations 42 Lino Lakes needs, indicating that she believes most residents, like she does, get their gas wherever 43 they are getting something else. She thinks this needs to be discussed before the Council passes it, 44 and she does not want it to be forgotten. She agrees with Councilmember Reinert that if stations are 45 removed now they can always be brought back. She advised that each development is evaluated on 22