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Mermaid IUP Report <br />April 26, 2010 <br />Page 3 <br /> <br /> <br />Chapter 1125 Considerations: <br />Ordinance 735 indicates that a tent IUP application be reviewed similarly to a conditional use <br />permit as articulated in Chapter 1125 of the Zoning Code. The chapter requires the Planning <br />Commission and City Council review and address any potential adverse effects that include, <br />but are not limited to, relationship with the Comprehensive Plan, geographical area involved, <br />potential depreciation, the character of the surrounding area and the demonstrated need for <br />such a use. Each of these potential adverse effects is listed below along with responses. <br /> <br />Relationship with the Comprehensive Plan. Having an outdoor temporary membrane <br />structure at the Mermaid would not be inconsistent with the comprehensive plan, which <br />guides this parcel as regional commercial planned unit development. <br /> <br />The Geographical Area Involved. The applicant’s property is part of a nine-acre site with a <br />variety of land uses. The general topography of the site is gently sloping to the south with <br />little variation. The stormwater from the site is routed to a regional stormwater pond west of <br />the Mermaid on the north side of County Road H. <br /> <br />Depreciation. Staff is not aware of any property depreciation because of the tent’s <br />existence. <br /> <br />The Character of the Surrounding Area. The site is prominently located at the corner of <br />County Highway 10 and County Road H. The tent, however, is located within a courtyard <br />area and is screened from all sides but the front by the Mermaid and AmericInn buildings. All <br />of the uses in the general area are commercial or retail with the exception of the Rice Creek <br />Corridor and Ramsey County open space to the south. <br /> <br />The Demonstrated Need for Such a Use. The applicant has indicated there is a need for the <br />tent because he is better able to serve his clientele and attract different types of events by <br />having the tent available for rental. The tent has been a successful addition for the Mermaid <br />for over five years. <br /> <br />Summary: <br />The Mermaid has installed the tent in previous years without any issue from a zoning <br />perspective while satisfying all of the ordinance and code requirements. Since this is the <br />second application for the tent, City staff believes that the City could approve the request for an <br />indefinite time period as long as the owner and operator satisfy all the annual conditions. <br />Given the positive history to date and the fact that the resolution has a provision that allows for <br />City review of the IUP at any point, staff is comfortable in recommending an open-ended <br />approval. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission reviewed this request on April 7, 2010 and recommended approval <br />of the lifetime Interim Use Permit.