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WSB Infrastructure . Engineering . Planning • Construction 701 Xenia Avenue South Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 Tel: 763-541-4800 Fax: 763-541-1700 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY VILLAGE MEMORANDUM To: St. Anthony Village City Council From: Kelsey Johnson, AICP, City Planner Date: November 7, 2012 City Council Regular Meeting for November 13, 2012 WSI3 ProjectNo. 01626-630 Regarding: Proposed Zoning Code Amendments Relating to the Regulation of Assemblies, Meeting Lodges and Convention Halls BACKGROUND On March 13, 2012, the St. Anthony Village City Council passed a moratorium on the issuance of Conditional Use Permits for Assemblies, Meeting Lodges or Convention I falls in order to give staff time to prepare a study regarding the intent and regulation of these uses within the Light Industrial and Commercial Districts. The need for the study arose from two recent applications for religious assembly in the Light Industrial Zoning District. "these applications were a concern to the City Council frons a land -use perspective. The City Council has stated its belief thatthe intent of the assembly use in the Commercial and Light Industrial Zoning Districts is for secular purposes, not religious. In May 2012, staff prepared "A Study for tlne Purpose of Considering Amendments to the City Zoning Code Regarding the Regulation of Assemblies, Meeting Lodges, and Convention Idalls". The goals of the Study were to: • Determine the City's intended meaning of "assembly" within the Zoning Code; • Determine whether the City intended religious assemblies to exist as conditional uses within commercial and light industrial zoning districts; • Ensure that any annendmcnts 1'o the City Zoning code do not conflict with the City's intent in planning for property use within its commercial and light industrial zoning districts; • Ensure that, if amended, the Zoning Code is improved in regards to consistency and clarity with respect to the use of "assemblies"; • Ensure that the Zoning Code is consistent with federal law; and • Respect the current as of the time of the study] applicant's interest's in receiving a reasonable and timely decision regarding the pending application. At its Special Session on .lune 4, 2012, the St. Anthony Village Planning Commission recommended to adopt "A Study for the Purpose of Considering Amendments to the City Zoning Code Regarding the Regulation of Assemblies, Meeting Lodges, and Convention 1falls". Specifically, the Planting Commission recommended to the City Council to adopt what was identified in the study as "Option 3". "Option 3" allows all assembly use (both religious and non -religious) within the Conunercial Zoning District and eliminates all assembly use (both religious and non -religious) frons the Light Industrial Zoning District. The intent of "Option 3" is to provide an alternative to those seeking places for assembly within the City and to treat assemblies equally within all zoning districts. "Option 3" will also preserve the light industrial zoning district as an area of the City developed specifically to industry-01-iented development and economic growth. 15