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Mounds View Planning Commission July 16, 2003 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> <br />Commissioner Johnson asked how other cities do this. <br /> <br />Director Ericson indicated that most cities have it as part of their commercial district and only <br />Hopkins has an overlay district. <br /> <br />Commissioner Johnson questioned why there is not a pawnshop already in New Brighton if they <br />are not doing something like this. <br /> <br />Director Ericson indicated that some cities prohibit pawnshops but that is against the law and <br />opens the City up to legal action. <br /> <br />Commissioner Hegland indicated he would like to know a little more about this overlay district <br />before making a decision because it may not be any more defendable than the approach of <br />simply not allowing a pawnshop. <br /> <br />Director Ericson indicated that Staff could get an opinion from the City Attorney and pull case <br />law but the problem is anything can be challenged and there is always a level of risk and no <br />attorney would counsel as to the spectrum of risk. <br /> <br />Commissioner Zwirn asked the status of the Mounds View Square pawnshop. <br /> <br />Director Ericson indicated there has been no change as far as he has heard. He then said that the <br />City has until September to come up with language for the Ordinance but could extend that <br />another year if the City feels it needs more time to research the matter. <br /> <br />James Nelson of 2242 Lambert indicated he came for the addition discussion but would like to <br />speak on this matter as well. He then said that when you allow a pawnshop a certain type of <br />business owner runs those and it seems they are of lower class and it starts a blight in the area <br />and soon the whole thing looks run down and low class. He further asked the City to be very <br />careful where the pawnshop is allowed to locate to prohibit this type of problem. <br /> <br />Commissioner Song suggested raising the fees as high as possible to ensure that only those that <br />intend to run a serious business and can afford to do so apply. <br /> <br />Director Ericson indicated that Council has recommended that the license fee be elevated to <br />$10,000 and that may be high enough to deter those that are not as serious or those that do not <br />have the funds to run an above-board facility. <br /> <br />Commissioner Hegland questioned why the attempt to govern where pawnshops are located has <br />grown into other adult uses. <br /> <br />Director Ericson indicated that was the direction from Council. <br />