7.3. SR 05-18-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Project Narrative — Zone Change — GATR Truck Center Company Background GATR Truck Center is a full service heavy and medium truck dealership which began in 1962. Purchased in 2000 by owner Bob Neitzke, GATR currently has three locations: Sauk Rapids, MN, Cedar Rapids, IA and Des Moines, IA, which employs approximately 200 people, with wages ranging from $12 to $100 an hour. GATR Truck Center sells and leases trucks throughout the United States and offers competitive financing packages for consumers. GATR offers an extensive parts department, exceeding $1 million in inventory and offering parts for cars, up to Class 8 trucks. All three locations offer well - trained, certified technicians, backed by their extensive parts departments, body shops and full service detailing facility. Roughly 30f of their business is through the sale of new trucks (fleets), and 70% is the sale of new trucks to individual owners. Highway visibility is crucial to the success of GATR's operations. Having served the trucking industry for over 50 years, GATR Truck Center was named Volvo Dealer of the Year in 2004, 2011 and 2012, and Volvo Parts Dealer of the Year in 2013. GATR prides themselves in their service; company culture is second to none and GATR attributes their success to the people they employ. They differentiate themselves from their competitors through the exceptional service they provide to their customers. Proposed Project With their rapid growth, GATR Truck Center is looking to open a location in the City of Elk River. GATR Truck Center is proposing to build an approximate 42,000 square foot facility in the 2nd phase of Nature's Edge Business Center. This location would offer new and used truck sales, rental, leasing, parts and service. GATR anticipates having 100 -150 trucks in inventory, with periodical customer and service trailers stored on the lot. The plan also depicts room for an approximately 7,500 sq. ft. area to the east of the proposed project, to be used for additional service area. GATR anticipates building this expansion within the next 5 -10 years. What are the reasons /purposes for the proposed Zone Change? GATR Truck Center is purchasing two lots in NEBC; one is currently zoned C -3 Highway Commercial, and the other is zoned Business Park. The western parcel is zoned C -3, and permits truck sales with a CUP. A CUP application has been submitted to the city for consideration. The eastern property is currently zoned Business Park, and would require a zoning change to allow GATR to build their new facility. On October 31, 2014, Bob Neitzke, owner of GATR Truck Center met with Jeremy Barnhart and City Engineer Justin Femrite to discuss the option of locating in the second phase of Nature's Edge Business Center (NEBC) and to solicit input on a rough site plan sketch. We questioned the rezoning of one of the parcels from Business Park to C -3, and Mr. Barnhart indicated we could apply for a rezone to permit the business to operate on the two parcels. What has changed to warrant the Zone Change? On November 5, 2015, a public hearing was held with the Planning Commission to approve amending