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Item No: 08B <br />Meeting Date: June 28, 2019 <br />MotesZ T�� Type of Business: Council Business <br />�w/ City Administrator Review: <br />City of Mounds 1/iew Staff Report <br />To: Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From: Jon Sevald, Community Development Director <br />Item Title/Subject: Public Hearing: First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance <br />977, an Ordinance Amending the Mounds View Municipal Code, <br />Title XV, Chapter 160, Sections 160.198 and 160.218 related to <br />Drive-Thru Businesses <br />Introduction: <br />El Loro Restaurant, 2535 Mounds View Boulevard, has been vacant since 2017. The property <br />is zoned B-4 Regional Business (the only property zoned B-4), which prohibits drive-thru <br />restaurants. Paster Properties (owner) has had some interest from fast-food restaurants. The <br />topic was discussed by the City Council's Development Committee, and at the Council's April 5th <br />Work Session, which favored allowing a drive-thru. The City's intent is to remove zoning <br />constraints (when warranted) that may be prohibiting redevelopment opportunities. <br />Discussion: <br />Mounds View Square shopping center consists of three buildings. The main building and El <br />Loro are zoned B-4. The Caribou building (formerly Hardee's) is zoned B-3. The B-3 district <br />allows drive-thru's as a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). The B-4 district prohibits them. The <br />original intent when Mounds View Square was developed in 1974 was for a traditional sit-down <br />restaurant (e.g. Bridgeman's, Totino's, El Loro). Since this time, dining habits have changed, <br />favoring fast-food restaurants (e.g. McDonalds, Subway), and fast casual restaurants (e.g. <br />Chipotle, Noodle's & Company). In winter/spring 2020, there was a proposal to remodel El Loro <br />into "Sofa Tap House and Grill" (no drive-thru), but was pulled due to the pending Covid-19 <br />pandemic. <br />The proposed Ordinance Amendment changings the term "Drive-in and convenience food <br />establishments" to "Drive-Thru Business". This change would treat any drive-thru the same, <br />whether a restaurant, or a pharmacy. Additionally, the amendment removes duplicate language <br />(# a - k), which refers to other sections of the City Code. In Staff's opinion, this provides a false - <br />sense that the drive-thru must only comply with those regulations referenced, and not others. <br />Analysis: <br />Current City Code <br />B-1 <br />B-2 <br />B-3 <br />B-4 <br />Restaurants, cafes, tea rooms, taverns, on- and off -sale liquor. <br />- <br />Permitted <br />Permitted <br />Restaurant, cafe, and tea room with a maximum of twenty four <br />- <br />Permitted <br />Permitted <br />Permitted <br />(24) seats and two thousand (2,000) square feet in floor area. The <br />restaurant shall not include drive-thru and/or window pick-up <br />services or the serving of food to patrons in their vehicles. <br />Restaurants, cafes and tea rooms with more than twenty four <br />- <br />CUP <br />Permitted <br />Permitted <br />(24) seats and/or two thousand (2,000) square feet of floor area. <br />The restaurant shall not include drive-thru and/or window pick-up <br />services or the serving of food to patrons in their vehicles. <br />Drive-in and convenience food establishments; provided, that: <br />- <br />CUP <br />- <br />a. The architectural appearance and functional plan of the <br />building and site shall not be so dissimilar to the existing <br />buildings or area as to cause impairment in property values or <br />constitute a blighting influence within a reasonable distance <br />