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<br />Memo to the Planning Commission/OA 05-03 <br />March 22, 2005 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />Analysis <br /> <br />In the past, dry cleaning facilities have been the subject of environmental concern due to the <br />chemicals used in the dry cleaning process. A number of dry cleaning sites have been the <br />subject of Brownfield developments, whereby State and Federal funds have been used to <br />clean up contamination as a result of dry cleaning facilities. The dry cleaning industry has a <br />fund that operators contribute to in order to clean contaminated sites as needed. Dry <br />cleaning is now a thoroughly regulated industry, by both the State and Federal governments. <br />If the Commission is interested, they can be forwarded information from the Federal <br />Pollution Control Agency regarding the Federal Environmental Regulations relating to <br />drycleaners. <br /> <br />Due to the change in Federal regulations, staff is not concerned with the possible relocation <br />of the Nadeau's facility within the downtown area. In addition, it would be logical to assume <br />that a similar facility may want to locate in the Highway Commercial District, or even in the <br />Light or Medium Industrial Districts. In order to regulate dry cleaning facilities, the City will <br />need to establish definitions of terms. Staff suggests for the Commission's consideration the <br />following definitions: <br /> <br />A. Dry Cleaning - Means the process of removing dirt, grease, paint, spots, stains or any <br />other form of foreign matter from wearing apparel and/or household furnishings by any <br />means other than washing with soap or detergent and water. <br />B. Dry Cleaning Establishment - Means an establishment for the mechanical cleaning of <br />garments, articles or goods of fabric for retail customers. <br />C. Dry Cleaning Pick-up Station - Means an establishment where customers drop-off and <br />pick up garments or articles that are sent to another location for cleaning. <br /> <br />The distinction between definitions B. and C. is important. A dry cleaning pick up station <br />could be a typical retail store front and be allowed in any commercial district, as the act of <br />dry cleaning would not occur in that space. It would be merely a place for dropping off and <br />picking up items that are to be dry cleaned off-site at a plant located elsewhere in the city or <br />within the region. <br /> <br />Staff is suggesting to the Commission that dry cleaning plants be allowed as a conditional use <br />in the Downtown, C3 Highway Commercial, and the Light Industrial Districts. Dry cleaning <br />pick up stations would be allowed as a permitted use in all commercial districts. Staff would <br />suggest that a dry cleaning plant could be consistent with typical Medium Industrial uses <br />such as auto repair shops or light manufacturing. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the ordinance <br />amendment relating to dry cleaning establishments which will establish definitions and <br />establish locations where such uses may be conditional and/or permitted. <br /> <br />S:\PLANNING\Case Files\200S\OA 05-03 Drycleaning\03 2205 pc memo. doc <br />