HomeMy WebLinkAbout#06 - School Bus Transportation Facility Ordinance STAFF REPORT
DATE: 6/9/2020
ITEM #:
MOTION
TO: City Council
FROM: Ken Roberts, Planning Director
AGENDA ITEM: Ordinance Amendment – Local Transit (School Bus Terminals)
REVIEWED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
BACKGROUND:
The Mayor asked staff to prepare an ordinance that would repeal the ordinance approved by the City in
2018 allowing local transit (School Bus Terminals) as a Conditional Use in the Business Park (BP)
Zoning District.
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL:
Should the City remove local transit (school bus terminals) as a conditional use within the Business Park
zoning district?
PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS:
What’s currently in the City Code regarding local transit?
The ordinance passed by the City in 2018 added local transit as a potential conditional use to the BP
(Business Park) zoning district. The ordinance included several standards for local transit (school bus
terminals) including the requirement that the use be limited to a school district transportation center
owned by a public school district serving as a bus terminal for buses that transport passengers to and from
schools or school programs.
What’s in the City Currently for Local Transit facilities (School Bus Terminals)?
There is one location on Hudson Boulevard that the City Council had approved a conditional use permit
(CUP) for a local transit (school bus terminal) facility. The City Council revoked that CUP earlier this
year due to several reasons, including the applicant not meeting all the conditions of approval set by the
City before occupying or using the property as a school bus terminal.
City Council Workshop 5/8/18 Item #
Page 2
FISCAL IMPACT:
Removing local transit as conditional use from the BP zoning district would prohibit the possibility of local
transit or school bus terminals from locating in Lake Elmo. It is not clear what if any fiscal impact this
change would have to the City.
OPTIONS:
The Council may wish to:
• Direct staff to make amendments to the Zoning Code that would remove local transit as a
conditional use in the Business Park zoning district. If this is the direction of the City Council, then
staff would schedule this matter for a public hearing with the Planning Commission. Staff has
attached a draft ordinance amendment that would remove local transit as a possible conditional use
in the BP zoning district for the Council’s review.
• Do not direct staff to make amendments to the Zoning Code that would remove local transit as a
conditional use in the Business Park zoning district.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Ordinance Amendment
1
CITY OF LAKE ELMO
COUNTY OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 08-XXX
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAKE ELMO CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES BY
REMOVING LOCAL TRANSIT AS A POTENTIAL CONDITIONAL USE WITHIN
THE BUSINESS PARK ZONING DISTRICT AND BY STRIKING THE STANDARDS
FOR LOCAL TRANSIT WITHIN THE BUSINESS PARK ZONING DISTRICT
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Lake Elmo hereby amends Title XV: Land
Usage; Chapter 154: Zoning Code; Article XIV: Commercial Districts; Section 154.551;
Table 12-1 by striking the striken language in the following:
LC CC C BP Standard
Public and Civic Uses
Colleges and universities - - C C 154.012
(B) (2),
154.303
(A)
Community service - C C C 154.012
(B) (2)
Day care center C C C C 154.012
(B) (2)
Schools, public and private - - C C 154.012
(B) (2),
154.303
(A)
Local Transit - - - C 154.554
(O)
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Lake Elmo hereby amends Title XV: Land
Usage; Chapter 154: Zoning Code; Article XIV: Commercial Districts; Section 154.554 by
striking the following sticken language:
O. Local Transit, BP District. School bus terminals shall be allowed as a conditional principal
use within the Business Park zoning district, provided that:
1. The us shall be limited to a school district transportation center, owned by a public shool district,
serving as a bus terminal for buses which transport passengers to and from schools or between
school programs and community residences.
2. The property on which the use is located must be located within one half mile of property owned
by a public school district for an active school or school administration building.
3. Must be on property of at least 10 acres in size or more.
4. Must be sufficiently screened, as determined by the City, from adjacent residential properties
through techniques such as berming and landscaping.
5. Accessory uses to bus terminals may include an office and routine maintenance of school buses,
including but not limited to washing and fueling.
2
SECTION 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon
adoption and publication in the official newspaper of the City of Lake Elmo.
SECTION 7. Adoption Date. This Ordinance 08-_____ was adopted on this ____ day of July
2020 by a vote of ____ Ayes and ___ Nays.
LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL
_________________________________
Mike Pearson, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Julie Johnson, City Clerk