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Item No: 6A Meeting Date: April 21, 2010 Type of Business: Discussion To: Planning Commission From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Discussion about expanding the possible uses in the B-1 Zoning District Introduction: Mounds View only has two parcels in the city that are zoned B-1, Neighborhood Business. One of the B-1 businesses closed and City staff recently noticed remodeling occurring in the vacant space. After talking to the people working in this space, City staff learned that they planned to open a thrift store. After reviewing the B-1 zoning code, City staff informed this potential business owner that the existing B-1 zoning code does not allow thrift stores. In fact, there are only five uses that are permitted in a B-1 zoning district: barbershops, beauty parlors, convenience grocery stores (not supermarket type), self-service laundromats and essential services (utility or government uses). The City may allow a daycare center in the B-1 district with the approval of a conditional use permit. City staff spoke to the thrift storeowner about this situation and we anticipate that she will apply to the City soon for a zoning code text amendment. Discussion: Staff has been researching what other cities allow in zoning districts that are comparable to Mounds View's B-1 district. All seven of the zoning codes from the other cities that staff reviewed allow several uses in their similar neighborhood business districts. These specific zoning code sections for the other cities are attached to this report. In general, all of the other cities zoning codes allow service businesses such as medical clinics and offices, along with several different types of retail in their respective neighborhood or limited business district zoning districts. Both of the B-1 zoned properties in Mounds View are very small — approximately 'h acre in size, with one building and a parking lot. The small building and lot sizes alone will limit the type of businesses that would open in these locations. As with many commercial properties in Mounds View, both of these B-1 properties are directly adjacent to residential land uses. The property at 2408 County Road I has a building that is about 4,800 square feet and has 21 parking spaces (with room for a few more). The other B-1 zoned property is at 7295 Silver Lake Road (at corner of County Road 1-12) and is about 2,200 square feet with 15 parking spaces. Neither property would probably meet the required number of parking spaces for most common land uses (see Chapter 1121.13 for parking requirements). Both of these properties are located on main roads and have access points that would be capable of handling more traffic.