04-15-2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

April '113, 2009 Section 1125.01, Subd. 1e: The Planning Commission is required to review the possible adverse effects of a requested conditional use. Section 1125.01, Subd. 1g: This section of the City Code states that the Planning Commission shall make findings of fact and recommend such actions or conditions relating to the request as it deems necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of the Zoning Code and forward such findings to the City Council. Discussion: Mr. Halverson is proposing to have the flea market and famers market on the site on Thursday, Saturday and Sundays from 7:30 am until 1:30 pm. He also is proposing to have auctions on the site on the two times each month that would be conducted by GSC Auction Service. Mr. Halverson is proposing to rent spots in his parking lot to vendors and to those wanting to sell items in the auction. It was unclear from his application materials to determine how many of the existing parking spots he wants to rent out or make available for each sales day or auction. During the April 1 planning commission meeting, Mr. Halverson showed a site plan for the property that showed 58 spaces for customer parking, 20 spaces for display of auction items and 78 spaces for vendor parking. City staff counted 167 parking spaces on the site. He expects each vendor to bring their own tables and to set up and remove their own displays or sales booths each sales day. He is proposing to have the sales and auctions in the mornings so they would not conflict with the operation and parking needs of the bar and restaurant (including the use of the existing parking lot). According to City records, the Robert's building is 11,295 square feet. As I noted on page one of this report, the City Code limits the outside services and sales to 30 percent of the gross floor area of the building. In this case, thirty percent of the building area is 3,389 square feet. Using the dimensions of standard parking spaces, 3,389 of area is equal to about 20 parking spaces. Based on the information above, Mr. Halverson wants to use more than 20 parking spaces on any one day for sales or auctions. As such, he would have to ask for and receive City approval of a variance to exceed the 30 percent maximum as set by the City Code. I have included more information the parking and the variance request on page 4 of this report. As I noted earlier, the planning commission, during their April 1, 2009 meeting, requested additional information from Mr. Halverson. He provided City staff with some additional information about his proposal verbally, but did not provide the City with any new information in writing.