1989.03.22 PC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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SUP FOR AUTO REDUCTION YARD (DRISCOLL/HATHAWAY Mr. Marrel Hathaway and Fletcher Driscoll have made application to the City of Hugo for a SUP to operate an auto reduction yard in an agricultural zoning district. The property in question abutts on Highway 61 and 170th Street and consists of approximately 23.3 acres (93008-3200). The applicant has submitted a preliminary site plan and narrative of his proposal. In his narrative, the applicant indicates that it is their intent to recycle late -model, foreign automobiles for reuse of automobile parts and the retail sales of repairable automobiles. The applicants have indicated that an application has been submitted to the Rice Creek Watershed District for proper permits. A public hearing has been scheduled to secure input from the applicants, the general public, and staff regarding this proposal. The city staff has completed it's review of the site plan and overall proposal, and has the following comments: 1. The proposal in question appears to be inconsistent with Part II, B, #5 and 6 of the city's Comprehensive Plan. 2. The retail sale of automobiles in an agricultural zone is not permitted as per the city's zoning ordinance. 3. There appears to be two established residential dwellings abutting on the north and south boundaries of the site at Highway 61, and at the northeast corner of the site. 4. The actual boundaries of the site are not clear on the site plan. 5. Building setbacks from the property lines are not dimensioned and cannot be determined. 6. The developers were unable to secure completed percolation tests on the site because of frozen ground. 7. The soil tests indicate that the water table in this area is located 36" from the ground surface. 8. This request is inconsistent with the City Council's direction to eliminate auto reduction yards by SUP from the city's zoning ordinance. 9. We would question whether this proposal is consistent with the city's Comprehensive Plan, Part II -A2, calling for "quality, light industrial development". 10. Our experience with similar auto reduction activities in Hugo indicates it is extremely difficult to monitor and control activities on site once a SUP is approved. We found the site plan extremely difficult to read; however, it appears that the auto reduction yard will be confined to area J as identified on the plan. City staff seriously questions whether as many as 500 automobiles could be safely stored in such a small area, and that a SUP would be issued for the entire tract of land which would allow other auto dismantling yards on the rest of the site. The city fully recognize that there are other dismantling yards in the vicinity of this proposal, and should note that they have been regarded as non -conforming uses. Much work has gone into cleaning up the existing auto reduction yards in an effort to improve the image of the City of Hugo. It should also be noted that if this SUP is approved, the applicants would still be required to secure the required annual auto dismantling license as required in the municipal code. If the Planning Commission feels that this request is consistent with the city's Comprehensive Plan, and the direction the city is headed with regard to development along Highway 61, we would recommend that SUP approval be subject to the following special conditions: _ _