HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Report - Hecker Wedding Venue Ord AmendMAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
DATE: 2/16/2016
CONSENT/REGULAR
ITEM #:
MOTION
AGENDA ITEM: Ordinance Amendment – Commercial Wedding Ceremony Venue
SUBMITTED BY: Stephen Wensman, Planning Director
THROUGH: Clark Schroeder, Interim City Administrator
REVIEWED BY: Joan Ziertman
SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS:
- Introduction of Item .................................................................................................... Staff - Report/Presentation .................................................................................................... Staff - Questions from Council to Staff ............................................................ Mayor Facilitates - Public Input, if Appropriate ................................................................... Mayor Facilitates - Call for Motion .............................................................................. Mayor & City Council - Discussion ..................................................................................... Mayor & City Council - Action on Motion .................................................................................. Mayor Facilitates
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED:
Danielle Hecker and Carol Palmquist are requesting an amendment to the Commercial Wedding Ceremony
Venue ordinance to allow venues on RR – Rural Residential properties 10 acres in size or greater, to
increase the number of allowed venues to 4 per week, to require the owner/operator or responsible designee
to be on the premises for the duration of each event, and exempting venue facilities from the surfacing and
curbing requirements of City Code Section 154.210
Staff and the Planning Commission recommend the City Council approved the ordinance amendment with
the following motion:
““Move to approval of Ordinance 08-_ amending the Lake Elmo Code of Ordinances, Section 154.310,
Subd. D, changing the minimum criteria to sites ten acres or greater, limiting ceremonies to no more
than 4 per week and no more than 3 per day, requiring the operator or responsible designee (a family
member, employee or responsible designee of at least 21 years of age) to be on the premises for the
duration of each event, exempting commercial wedding ceremony venues from the commercial
surfacing and curbing requirements of City Code Section 154.210.”
BACKGROUND AND STAFF REPORT:
The applicant is proposing an amendment to the Commercial Wedding Ceremony Venue ordinance in order
to correct a perceived text error in the code, to increase the revenue potential to facilitate the restoration of
a historic barn, to minimize an operational constraint, and to clarify parking and curbing requirements. The
current ordinance restricts commercial wedding ceremony venues to parcels greater than ten acres, where
it was generally understood that parcels of 10 acres and greater would qualify. The applicant believes the
requirement that the owner/operator be on the premises for the duration of each event is impractical. Venues
are often scheduled years in advance, and family emergencies or other conflicts with scheduled venues
cannot be predicted. Therefore, operationally, it makes sense to allow a responsible designee to be on the
premises when the owner/operator cannot be present. The applicant is investing significant monies to
restore the historic barn to give it an economic purpose which would otherwise would likely fall into
disrepair and be removed from the landscape. The restoration and repurposing of the barn is consistent with
the City’s Comprehensive Plan and the purpose the Commercial Wedding Ceremony Venue ordinance. To
facilitate the restoration of the barn and to make it economically tenable, the request to increase the number
of allowed ceremonies from 2 to 4 per week is reasonable. Lastly, the intent of the ordinance is to preserve
the rural character. The principal use of the property is residential with a commercial accessory use. The
City code for commercial properties requires paving and curbing, which conflict with the intent of the
ordinance and the applicant’s desire to preserve the rural character. For this reason, it may be reasonable
to exempt commercial wedding ceremony venues from the commercial parking and curbing requirements.
Public Hearing. A public hearing was held at the Planning Commission on February 8, 2016. At the
public hearing one resident spoke against the amendment and one for it.
Planning Commission Review. The Planning Commission was in support of the ordinance amendment,
with the following changes. The Planning Commission wanted to clarify the meaning of responsible
designee The Commission was also concerned about the increase in the number of venues and the impact
on neighboring residences. They agreed to the increase to a maximum of four venues per week, but no
more than 3 per day.
Staff has not had adequate time to prepare minutes for the February 8, 2016 Planning Commission,
therefore, the ordinance amendment is based on Staff’s notes, but not the exact Planning Commission
recommended zoning text amendment language.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff and the Planning Commission recommend the City Council approved the ordinance amendment with
the following motion:
““Move to approval of Ordinance 08-_ amending the Lake Elmo Code of Ordinances, Section 154.310,
Subd. D, changing the minimum criteria to sites ten acres or greater, limiting ceremonies to no more
than 4 per week and no more than 3 per day, requiring the operator or responsible designee (a family
member, employee or responsible designee of at least 21 years of age) to be on the premises for the
duration of each event, exempting commercial wedding ceremony venues from the commercial
surfacing and curbing requirements of City Code Section 154.210.”
ATTACHMENT(S):
Ordinance Amendment 08-__pertaining to Commercial Wedding Ceremony Venues
Planning Commission Minutes 2/8/16