7.5 SR 07-16-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case File: OA 12-03 Page 2 Commercial Recreation ANALYSIS Commercial recreation uses, when indoors, require large clear open space; the type of space commonly found in buildings originally constructed for industrial, manufacturing, or warehousing uses in industrially zoned areas. Often these types of buildings are incompatible in office, or central business districts, due to the scale of the building within the established neighborhood. Commercial recreation when used outdoors (volleyball/ tennis courts,etc.) often are very risible to the neighboring properties, thus impacting the character of the neighborhood. Staff feels that these impacts can be appropriately mitigated via the conditional use permit process. The Planning Commission and Council must evaluate the benefits these uses bring to the quality of life of the residents (via diversity of entertainment, exercise, and training options), the desire to maintain an appropriate scale in the existing commercial neighborhoods versus locating these businesses in an industrial area does remove some of the capacity for these areas to support employment and manufacturing opportunities. With conditions, these uses are currently allowed in the BP zoning district. Staff proposes removing these uses from the Business Park Zoning district as these are prime job growth areas. In most cases, the use of a space by a commercial recreation business does not impact the tax generation capabilities of the building it is housed in; most commercial recreation businesses are for profit. Staff proposes the following changes to the ordinance, intended to simplify the regulations and allow these uses in .areas where they are appropriate, given their space needs and the City's desire to provide high quality industrial land for job growth. These changes are summarized in the chart below. The following new definitions would be added: Golf Courses anc~ country clubs means an area or course for playing golf, consisting of at least nine holes, excluding miniature golf, within which the playing area is not artificially illuminated. Clubhouse and shelters are accessory structures. Public Parks means public land available for recreational, educational, cultural, or aesthetic use, which may include recreational features, including play structures. Any area designated by the city as a park. The following definitions would be amended: Commercial recreation facility means anon-governmental building, structure or open space, operated by a profit or non-profit entity and open to the general public and used for sports activities of amusement. Such facilities may include bowling alleys, cart tracks, jump centers, gymnasiums, ice rinks, tennis courts, volleyball courts and other similar leisure uses. OA 12-03 Commercial Recreation SR to PC 7-1(I-12