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<br />Mermaid Tent Report <br />January 7, 2004 <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />Roseville, MN  one space per 50 square feet <br />Buffalo Grove, IL  one space per four seats <br />Plymouth, MN  one space per 40 square feet <br />Costa Mesa, CA  one space per three seats <br />Hopkins, MN  one space per 35 square feet <br />Manchester, CT  one space per 25 square feet <br />Santa Clarita, CA  one space per three seats <br />Andover, MN  one space per three seats <br />Redmond, WA  one space per five seats <br />Farmington, MN  one space per four seats <br />Edina, MN  one space per 3.3 seats <br />Santa Ana, CA  one space per 28 square feet <br />Arden Hills, MN  one space per three seats <br /> <br />Through the development review process, the Planning Commission and the City Council <br />review and approve site plans, parking requirements, building materials, signage and other <br />design guidelines. Buildings within a development are usually required to be of the same <br />type of construction and materials to provide a uniform and consistent design, especially <br />when located within the County Highway 10 commercial corridor. Utilizing a tent or other <br />perennial temporary structures circumvents the typical review process. <br /> <br />For all the above reasons, it would seem apparent that the City should adopt regulations <br />pertaining to tents and membrane structures via a code amendment to allow outdoor <br />assembly and food services (covered and/or uncovered) as an accessory or conditional use <br />in commercial districts for properly licensed restaurants, banquet facilities and nightclubs. <br />Other commercial / industrial uses would also be permitted to erect tents and membrane <br />structures for short periods of time (to allow for employee picnics, trade shows, etc.). The <br />ultimate goal would be to limit and control the proliferation of tents and membrane structures <br />in the City. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />In summary, the Planning Commission should generally discuss whether or not tents and <br />membrane structures should be allowed in commercial districts, and if so, under what <br />conditions. Questions that should be addressed include parking requirements, location, <br />design guidelines and duration. Specific to the Mermaid tent, the Planning Commission <br />should consider the facts and make a recommendation as to whether any additional <br />regulations or conditions are needed to ensure compliance with the spirit and intent of the <br />City’s zoning code. Final determination as to the presence of the Mermaid tent and <br />membrane structures in general will rest with the City Council. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />_____________________________________ <br />James Ericson <br />Community Development Director <br />City of Mounds View