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City Council Minutes Page 3 October 15, 2012 ----------------------------- 7.2 Ordinance Amendment: City of Elk River for Outdoor Storage in the Business Park Zoning • District, Case No. OA 12-04 Mr. Barnhart presented the staff report. Mayor Dietz opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak, Mayor Dietz closed the public hearing. Mayor Dietz stated he felt the Planning Commission's recommendation that the area to be screened be up to 30% of the lot area was too large. He questioned what other cities were allowing for outdoor storage. Mr. Barnhart stated the Planning Commission did recommend up to 30% of the lot area, but he too felt this was too large an area. He recommended the amount of outdoor storage be no greater than 30% of the building area. He stated not all of the businesses in this district have a need to use outdoor storage, but stated that pallets, machinery, and trailers were the main items stored outdoors. He stated it's hard to compare Elk River to other communities as Elk River's Business Park is unique. He asked that Council approve the area of outdoor storage based upon how they see the original intent of the use of the Business Park zoning district. Councilmember Westgaard stated he felt this amendment was a good addition to the current ordinance and understood how certain businesses require outdoor storage. He felt screening with natural materials would be the best. Councilmember Motin stated he was not in favor of approving outdoor storage based upon • the original intent of the standards of the Business Park zoning district. He commented on the city's goal of improving beautification and felt allowing more outdoor storage would go against this goal. He requested the screening be complimentary to the color of the building itself. He also asked how the buildings with multiple tenants would be affected. Mayor Dietz stated he would be in favor of allowing up to 30% of building area for outdoor storage, and that businesses should be required to install screening of a similar color to the building. Mr. Barnhart stated the goal with the screening requirement would be to allow the businesses to make the choice in the type of screening they use, whether it was fencing or natural landscaping materials, but allow for staff and the Council to make the final approval of the materials used, or modify the business's proposal. Counselor Beck had concerns with how to handle requests from multiple tenants and multiple owners of buildings in this zoning district, and asked how Council wanted to word the ordinance amendment. After discussion, it was decided to change item 11(c) of the proposed ordinance amendment to read "30% of the building area" instead of "30% of the lot area," and to handle future requests with multiple tenants and multiple owners of building owners as necessary. It was decided that screening of the outdoor storage area shall be complimentary to the design of the building. MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY • COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO APPROVE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT #12-15 FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER FOR OUTDOOR