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itfkREQUEST FOR ACTION <br /> River <br /> TO ITEM NUMBER <br /> Mayor and City Council 7.2 <br /> AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY <br /> Public Hearings October 15,2012 Jeremy Barnhart,Planning Manager <br /> ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By <br /> Ordinance Amendment: City of Elk River for Outdoor Storage Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> in the Business Park Zoning District, Case No. OA 12-04 REVIEWED BY <br /> ACTION REQUESTED <br /> Staff and the Planning Commission recommend adoption of the ordinance as drafted,allowing outdoor <br /> storage as a conditional use permit in the Business Park zoning district. <br /> BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION <br /> The city was approached by a business owner in the Business Park Zoning District for permission to <br /> construct a fenced-in outdoor storage area. Outdoor storage is not permitted in the Business Park <br /> District. <br /> After a review of properties within the Business Park District,it was noted that several,but not all, <br /> manufacturing businesses store materials outside. Most common items include pallets,racks,material, <br /> and trailers. <br /> Recognizing that outdoor storage (defined for discussion as the storage of equipment and materials <br /> directly related to or the result of permitted operations) is a frequent by-product of the manufacturing <br /> process,a desirable use in the Business Park, staff developed an ordinance that allows outdoor storage as <br /> a conditional use permit,with screening requirements. The Planning Commission added a maximum of <br /> 30% of the lot area. Commissioners directed staff to review the ordinances of other communities to <br /> gauge their requirements. <br /> The comparisons between communities are not always helpful. In the Business Park District,the city is <br /> attempting to elevate the conditions in the area beyond the standard pure industrial district. Most <br /> communities do not have a Business Park Zoning District. Many cities (Maple Grove,Plymouth,Anoka, <br /> Rogers) allow outside storage in their industrial areas,with a fencing or screening requirement. Approval <br /> for outdoor storage appears to occur through a conditional use permit. Staff has not been able to identify <br /> a maximum area permitted, other than keeping these storage areas outside of the required setback areas. <br /> 30% (suggested by the Planning Commission) is a large area. On Mr. Provo's 2.89 acre lot,he could <br /> conceivably host almost 37,900 feet of outdoor storage. <br /> Planning Commission comments <br /> The Planning Commission discussed this issue at length during their meeting on October 9,2012. <br /> Commissioners were asked to determine if outdoor storage was appropriate, and if so, could the negative <br /> impacts be mitigated through conditions. Commissioners reviewed the goal of the district,which is to <br /> establish an area for job and tax base growth. <br /> POWERED eY <br /> N:\Departments\Community Development\Planning\Case Files\O4\OA 12-04 Outdoor Storage in BP SR to CC OA 12- NATURE" <br /> 04 Outdoor storage in BP 10-15-12.docx <br />