05-07-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View Planning Commission May 7, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 9 ________________________________________________________________________ Council Member Gunn addressed the Commission and said she has begun receiving input from residents that are concerned about the pawnshop and the primary concern is the proposed location. She then said that she feels it is time to consider an alternate location. Commissioner Zwirn indicated he has fielded 30 telephone calls with regard to pawnshops being located in the mall and a number of tenants were not told about the pawnshop proposal or it was misrepresented to them by Paster Enterprises. Secondly, the residents surrounding the mall within a three or four block area have indicated that they do not want a pawnshop in the mall. Some were okay with having a pawnshop but not in the mall and not in a family area they want it away from children and not around apartment areas and this Commission needs to address that issue and/or raise fees so high that it is not attractive. Chair Stevenson indicated he is not opposed to limiting Mounds View Square. Commissioner Hegland asked if there is any square footage limit to the size of the operation or if it is possible for this business to take over the entire Mounds View Square. Director Ericson indicated there is no limitation as to the size. Director Ericson indicated that he would hesitate to comment on the record making the fees high enough to discourage someone from locating in Mounds View. Director Ericson indicated that the Commission could discuss creating a new overlay district but he is not sure of a consensus on the position of the Commission and asked whether it would be necessary to discuss the location further or if the Commission was ready to make a recommendation. Chair Stevenson indicated that one of the reasons why Mounds View Square was chosen was because of the uniqueness of a B-4 zoning district and, this being the only one, it would limit the number of pawnshops in the City. Commissioner Song indicated the fee is only an estimate and can always be raised if necessary. She then said she believes the owner will cooperate very nicely with the City. Commissioner Miller indicated the Commission discussed and determined that the best location would be Mounds View Square. She then said she has a problem with the comments concerning the types of people that frequent pawnshops after having been in one and seen people coming and going. Chair Stevenson indicated he feels that the Commission has spent a lot of time on this recommendation and now it is time to pass it on to Council who will deal with the resident input and amend the recommendation as necessary. Commissioner Hegland indicated the City needed to limit the square footage for the business.