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City Council Minutes Page 5 <br /> July 16,2012 <br /> AMENDING CHAPTER 30,ARTICLE I,SECTION 30-1,DEFINITIONS,AND <br /> • CHAPTER 30,ARTICLE VI, DIVISION 7, COMMERCIAL OR BUSINESS <br /> DISTRICTS AND DIVISION 8 INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS PARK <br /> DISTRICTS, OF THE ELK RIVER MINNESOTA CITY CODE ALL <br /> PERTAINING TO COMMERCIAL RECREATION AND PHYSICAL <br /> RECREATION AND TRAINING USES. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. <br /> 7.6 Conditional Use Permit to Amend Elk Park Center Planned Unit Development to Allow <br /> Pawn Shops as a Conditional Use,Case No. CU 12-09 <br /> Mr.Barnhart presented the staff report. <br /> Mayor Dietz opened the public hearing. <br /> Ryan Brown, applicant—Stated he sent an invitation to all the Councilmembers to visit his <br /> stores in other cities. He stated he did not realize this item was on the agenda to be <br /> considered for denial. IV[r.Brown noted criminals will commit crime whether or not a pawn <br /> shop is located in Elk River and the difference with having the pawn shop is it's easier for <br /> police to recover items. <br /> Attorney Beck outlined the action taken by the City Council at their June 18,2012,meeting <br /> of which Mr.Brown was in attendance. <br /> Mike McDonough, 18966 Lowell Street—Stated he is opposed to a pawn shop in Elk <br /> River due to the amount of work it will create for the police. <br /> • Mayor Dietz closed the public hearing. He further asked Police Captain Bob Kluntz to speak <br /> to his knowledge of pawn shops. <br /> Captain Kluntz stated the police do have concerns about a pawn shop in Elk River.He <br /> stated pawn shops do increase workload but he can't estimate the time at this point.He <br /> further highlighted some of the details of the type of work that would be performed by the <br /> police. <br /> Councilmember Westgaard stated he didn't have any issues with the pawn shop location and <br /> felt they operate similar to a second hand store. <br /> Councilmember Motin disagreed. He stated concerns with how development surrounding <br /> this location will be impacted and how citizens will perceive the area differently. He noted he <br /> drove to the applicant's store in Ramsey and further detailed the blight he saw in the area. <br /> He stated he had no issues with the shop locating in another area of the city but didn't feel <br /> this was the appropriate location for a pawn shop. <br /> Councilmember Zerwas concurred. He further outlined why he believes a pawn shop is <br /> different from a second hand shop. He stated a pawn shop is a business known to attract <br /> criminals.He further discussed his experience with pawn shop issues when he worked for <br /> Anoka County.He noted the extra work that would be needed by the police department to <br /> track stolen goods through the various pawn shops. <br /> Mayor Dietz stated that at the last Council meeting he indicated he was in support of the <br /> • conditional use permit. He stated many citizens have since approached him with reasons as <br />