HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7 - Ord 08-107 - Commercial Wedding Venues 5-6-14 Approved1
CITY OF LAKE ELMO
COUNTY OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 08-107
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAKE ELMO CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING
PROVISIONS CONCERNING COMMERCIAL WEDDING CEREMONY VENUES AND
ALLOWING SUCH USES AS AN INTERIM USE IN A AND RT ZONING DISTRICTS
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Lake Elmo hereby ordains that Title I:
General Provisions; Chapter 11: General Code Provisions, is hereby amended by
adding the following definitions:
Wedding Ceremony: The formal activities and observances during which people are united in
marriage. A wedding ceremony typically involves an exchange of vows, presentation of a gift, and
a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or leader. Music, poetry, or readings from
religious texts or literature are also commonly incorporated into the ceremony.
Wedding Reception: A wedding reception is a party held after the completion of a marriage
ceremony. It is held usually as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding and typically
occurs in a different venue than the wedding itself.
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Lake Elmo hereby ordains that Title XV:
Land Usage; Chapter 154: Zoning Code, is hereby amended by adding the
following:
§154.012 Zoning Use Types and Classifications
B. Use Types and Classifications.
12. Accessory Uses
Commercial Wedding Ceremony Venue. A use involving a location to conduct wedding
ceremonies, not including receptions, and usually operated in exchange for remuneration
by providing the venue to the public.
SECTION 3. The City Council of the City of Lake Elmo hereby ordains that Title XV:
Land Usage; Chapter 154: Zoning Code, is hereby amended by adding the
following:
§154.400 Permitted and Conditional Uses.
Table 9-1 lists all permitted and conditional uses allowed in the rural districts. “P” indicates a
permitted use, “C” a conditional use, and “I” an interim use. Uses not so indicated shall be considered
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prohibited. Cross-references listed in the table under “Standards” indicate the location within this
Ordinance of specific development standards that apply to the listed use.
Table 9-1: Permitted and Conditional Uses, Rural Districts
RT A RR RS RE Standard
Accessory Uses
Commercial Wedding Ceremony Venue I I - - - 155.111.C
SECTION 4. The City Council of the City of Lake Elmo hereby ordains that Title XV:
Land Usage; Chapter 154: Zoning Code, is hereby amended by adding the
following:
§ 154. 310 Standards for Accessory Uses
D. Commercial Wedding Ceremony Venue. A commercial wedding venue is allowed as an accessory use with an interim use permit in the A – Agriculture and RT – Rural Transitional on
parcels greater than 10 acres size. The suitability of a parcel for a wedding venue shall be
determined by the characteristics of the site and by the unique capacity of the parcel to
accommodate the use while preserving the essential rural character of the neighborhood and
the site on which the use is located, by the ability of the parcel to accommodate the use without negative impact on the general health, safety, and welfare of the community, and by
other factors the City may deem appropriate for consideration.
1. Ownership. The property will be the primary residence of the venue operator(s). The
operator must be on the premises for the duration of each event.
2. Maximum Number of Guests. The maximum numbers of guests is limited to 150 for each event.
3. Food and Beverages. The serving of food and beverages is permitted only as part of the
ceremony.
4. Seasonal Operation. Ceremonies are limited to no more than twice per week and are
permitted only during the months of May through October.
5. Hours of Operation. Events shall only be allowed between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and
10:00 p.m. All guests and staff must vacate the premises by 10:00 p.m. All lights
associated with the event must be turned off by 10:00 p.m. Any one ceremony is limited to a maximum duration of three (3) hours.
6. Overnight Accommodations. No overnight accommodations are allowed.
7. Off-Street Parking. Off-street parking shall be required in the ratio of one (1) parking
space for each three attendees based on the maximum number of attendees planned for
the site. The off-street parking area and the number of parking spaces shall be documented on the required site plan.
8. Setbacks. The minimum setbacks from neighboring houses and property lines for the
various activities associated with the wedding venue shall be as follows:
a. Parking: 100 feet from residential property lines; 200 feet from neighboring houses.
b. Outdoor Activity Spaces: 300 feet from residential property lines; 400 feet from
neighboring houses.
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c. Indoor Activity Spaces: 300 feet from residential property lines; 400 feet from
neighboring houses.
9. Landscaping/Screening. Landscaping may be required to buffer the use from adjacent land uses and to provide screening when such screening does not presently exist on the site. A
landscape plan shall be submitted at the time of application for an Interim Use Permit.
10. Grading. Any proposed grading shall observe all requirements of Section 151.017 of the
City Code. If a grading plan is required, it shall be submitted in conjunction with an
application for an Interim Use Permit.
11. Traffic. A transportation management plan shall be submitted as part of an application for
an Interim Use Permit. The plan shall address traffic control, including traffic movement
to the public street system and impact on the surrounding roadways.
12. Structures. All existing or proposed structures to be used for the wedding ceremony venue
shall be inspected by the City’s Building Official and must meet applicable Building Code requirements.
a. Temporary Structures. Temporary structures, including tents and canopies, may be
allowed. Tents and canopies may be erected no more than one (1) day prior to an
event and must be removed no more than 72 hours following the event.
13. Application. An application for a commercial wedding venue shall follow the application
and review procedures for an Interim Use Permit as specified in Section 154.107. In
addition to the submission requirements of Section 154.107, an application for a
commercial wedding venue shall include the following information:
a. The expected number of attendees per ceremony;
b. The number of ceremonies per year;
c. The number of employees;
d. The hours of operation;
e. Sanitary facilities;
f. Lighting;
g. Sound amplification to be used and a plan to minimize any amplified sounds;
h. Temporary structures or tents to be used in association with the planned events;
i. Signage;
j. Security to be provided;
k. Location of all trash receptacles;
l. Traffic management plan;
m. Other documentation as specified herein;
14. Sanitary Facilities. Sanitary facilities adequate for the number of attendees shall be
provided. Portable toilets may be approved for temporary use, and must be screened from view from roads and neighboring properties by landscaping or a wooden enclosure. No
portable toilets shall be located closer than 400 feet from a neighboring residential
structure.
15. Lighting. Lighting associated with the wedding venue shall be limited to downcast and
shielded fixtures so that the source of the light is not visible from adjacent roads or
neighboring properties. Lighting shall comply with Section 150.035 of the City Code.
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16. Noise. All wedding venues shall comply with City’s noise standards found in Section 130.45
through 130.48 of the City Code.
17. Sound Amplification. Amplification of music and participants and is allowed only in conjunction with a wedding ceremony. There shall be no other amplification of music or
sound outside of the ceremony.
18. Waste. All solid waste must be stored in a manner that prevents the propagation,
harborage, or attraction of flies, rodents, or other nuisance conditions and must be
removed at least once every seven days by a licensed solid waste hauler.
19. Liability. The applicant shall secure adequate liability coverage, which shall be in place at
least one week prior to any event.
20. Other Activities. Other than the commercial wedding ceremonies authorized under this
section, no other commercial ceremonial activities may be conducted on the site.
SECTION 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon
adoption and publication in the official newspaper of the City of Lake Elmo.
SECTION 6. Adoption Date. This Ordinance 08-107 was adopted on this 6th day of
May 2014, by a vote of ___ Ayes and ___ Nays.
LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL
______________________________
Mike Pearson, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Adam Bell, City Clerk
This Ordinance 08-107 was published on the ____ day of ___________________, 2014.