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MEMORANDUM DATE: 06/12/02 MEETING DATE: 06/18/02 TO: Planning Commission Members FROM: Susan M.H. Hall, Assistant City Manager SUBJECT: Amend Ordinance for Candle Manufacturing Requested Action: Amend City Ordinance Section 1400.03 to remove wax in the production of candles and the production of home fragrance products as a manufacturing permitted conditional use in the Light Industrial district. Background: At the request of applicant Village. North, LLP, on November 27, 2001, the City Council adopted wax and scented wax manufacturing processes to be added under permitted conditional use in the Light Industrial district. The applicant then requested a conditional use permit for a company called Essenco to occupy the building at 2801 37th Avenue Northeast. Essenco manufactures candles. From the beginning, residents were leery of the smells and problems that could come from manufacturing of candles. The City wrestled with how to-balance the interests of the business owner and impacted residents. As time went on, various residents in the vicinity of the candle manufacturer commented to city staff and many were quite bothered by the scented smells. In March, the manufacturer approached the City for a more permanent conditional use permit and later pulled back the request before going to City Council. They decided they had had enough. Essenco's conditional use permit runs through September 1, after which point they will need to cease all operations in St. Anthony. Making this amendment change means that candle manufacturing will no longer be permitted in St. Anthony. Staff Recommendation: The City found out through this case how difficult it is to measure the nuisance level of smell. City staff recommends approval of this City Ordinance amendment.