Agenda Packets - 2009/08/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 5 Meeting Date: August 3, 2009 Type of Business: WS Administrator Review: ________ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Discussion about allowing donation bins in the City Introduction: At the July 6, 2009 Council Worksession, the Epilepsy Foundation spoke to the City Council about allowing their donation bins to be located at two or three commercial properties in the city. In 2007 the Council had discussed these types of bins and decided not to allow them in the city due to the aesthetics, the problems with items left laying on the ground next to the bins, and they are not what the Council wants to see along the City’s main corridors. After the Epilepsy Foundation spoke, Council decided to possibly allow a limited number of bins with conditions, but first directed staff to again ask other cities if they allow donation bins and bring the information back at the August Worksession. Discussion: Staff researched how other communities treat these types of collection boxes. None of the cities codes specifically addresses donation bins. The cities either allow the bins (usually because there is nothing in the code that prohibits them), or they consider them something that the code does address, such as outside storage. All of the cities that staff asked in 2007 had the same answer now. The following is a few responses received on the subject: Fridley: They do not allow the collection boxes in their community, treating them as outside storage. A property owner could, however, apply for a conditional use permit to have them. Blaine: Does not permit the collection boxes, indicating that they do not meet Blaine’s articulated commercial building standards. Arden Hills: Does not expressly permit such uses, however outdoor storage is not permitted in most districts. They could possibly be allowed in a PUD district. Spring Lake Park: They allow donation bins. Maplewood: They do not prohibit donation bins.