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Item No: 4C <br />Meeting Date: August 6, 2007 <br />Type of Business: WS <br />Administrator Review: ____ <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br /> <br />To: Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From: James Ericson, Community Development Director <br />Item Title/Subject: Review Regulations Associated with <br /> Accessory Collection Boxes and Vending Kiosks <br />Introduction: <br /> <br />In May, the City was contacted by Denise Forsberg, a representative of U’SAgain, a for-profit <br />company which collects used clothing for redistribution at drop-boxes, often located in <br />parking lots of commercial properties. Ms. Forsberg was seeking permission to locate <br />collection boxes in the City. Five such U’SAgain boxes are already located in Mounds <br />View—one at the PAC Building, two at the laundromat on County Road I and two at the bp <br />gas station at County Road H and County Road 10. The boxes at the bp station are located <br />near the front line of the property along County Road 10, whereas the boxes at the other two <br />locations are not as obvious. (Refer to the photos on the next page.) Staff has invited Ms. <br />Forsberg to attend this Council’s meeting. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br />Staff researched how other communities treat these types of collection boxes and other <br />vending kiosks such as a Red Box, usually found inside of McDonalds franchises. The <br />following is but a few responses received on the subject: <br /> <br /> Fridley: They do not allow the collection boxes in their community, treating <br />them as outside storage. A property owner could however apply for a <br />conditional use permit. <br /> <br /> Blaine: Does not permit the collection boxes, indicating that they do not meet <br />Blaine’s articulated commercial building standards. <br /> <br /> Arden Hills: Does not expressly permit such uses, however their planner admitted <br />that they would probably allow one in the community without a special <br />use permit. <br /> <br /> Spring Lake Park: They allow such collection boxes. <br /> <br />Shoreview: These are permitted in non-residential districts through the formal Site <br />and Building Plan Review process - Planning Commission review and <br />Council approve/deny. City Code defines them as accessory <br />structures. Location, setbacks and screening are the principal <br />considerations. <br /> <br />Staff’s concern with these boxes is that they contribute to clutter, bear no association to the <br />host property (in contrast with a video drop box, for example, at a video store) and that they <br />often become unsightly, aesthetically displeasing and a drop-off point for non-clothing debris <br />and other junk. U’SAgain asserts that they have an impeccable record for maintenance and <br />collection and that their boxes would not become unsightly.