Agenda Packets - 2013/03/25 - Laserfiche WebLink

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This year the planning committee branched out with "digital" advertising in an attempt to attract a more diverse, younger demographic in attending the event. It is difficult to measure how or where people heard about the show since the door NORTH prize registrations were lower than previous years. It wasestimated that as many as thirty residents stopped by theMounds View booth during the event to say "Hi" and askShowquestions. The majority of the comments and/or questions received were regarding the City's street reconstruction project. Because of the low investment and high reward potential, we believe the North Metro Home and Garden Show is definitely a venture worthy of future City support. Since the planning committee has hired an event planner, the amount of City staff time required to plan and coordinate the event is very little and the revenue from booth sales and sponsors covers the cost of the event itself and the event planner. Planning Activity Planning Associate Heidi Heller is the staff liaison to the Planning Commission and coordinates all planning and zoning activity in the City. Helping residents determine where they can build accessory buildings or driveways or assisting contractors and developers with the types of uses allowed in a specific zoning district as daily occurrences. Ms. Heller conducts zoning inspections and issues building and zoning permits in the absence of the permit technician. In 2012, the Planning Commission held 12 meetings. The main cases approved by the Planning Commission and City Council were: • Approved a conditional use permit for a new tire and auto repair business, Tires N' More, that bought the long -vacant "PAK building" at 2832 County Road 10. Staff continues to work with them on a variance application for a new parking lot. • Approved variance extensions for driveways at 5 rental duplexes on Raymond Avenue. The owner is remodeling the homes and adding attached garages, which is a significant investment in each property. The homes currently have no garages and only a single wide driveway, and setback variances were needed to have a double wide driveway. The owner applied for all the variances at once in order to have the wider aprons installed when Raymond Avenue was reconstructed in 2011. It will take a few years to get all the buildings completed, but the Planning Commission was willing to give extensions on the variances as long as the owner was making progress. • Approved a variance to build a larger than allowed garage on the property at 2975 County Road 10 (former Thrifty Car Rental). Unfortunately, the applicant did not follow through with the purchase of the building and it remains vacant and for sale. • Approved an amendment to the PUD Agreement for the vacant building at 2442 County Road 10. Apple Tree Dental is in the process of buying this building and needed the front setback requirement reduced in order for their build -out plans to work. • Approved a variance for a driveway with a reduced setback at 8155 Red Oak Drive. This is a narrow lot and had a very small house that was foreclosed. A home investor company bought the property and is currently building a new home. Page 14