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<br />Memo to the Mayor and City Council/OA 05-03 <br />April 4, 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 clean <br />up contamination as a result of dry cleaning facilities. The dry cleaning industry has a fund that <br />operators contribute to in order to clean contaminated sites as needed. Dry cleaning is now a <br />thorougWy regulated industry, by both the State and Federal governments. If the Commission is <br />interested, they can be forwarded information from the Federal Pollution Control Agency <br />regarding the Federal Environmental Regulations relating to drycleaners. <br /> <br />Due to the change in Federal regulations, staff is not concerned with the possible relocation of <br />the Nadeau's facility within the downtown area. In addition, it would be logical to assume that a <br />similar facility may want to locate in the Highway Commercial District, or even in the Light or <br />Medium Industrial Districts. In order to regulate dry cleaning facilities, the City will need to <br />establish definitions of terms. Staff suggests for the Commission's consideration the following <br />definitions: <br /> <br />A. Dry Cleaning - Means the process of removing dirt, grease, paint, spots, stains or any other <br />form of foreign matter from wearing apparel and/ or household furnishings by any means <br />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 pick <br />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 could <br />be a typical retail store front and be allowed in any commercial district, as the act of dry cleaning <br />would not occur in that space. It would be merely a place for dropping off and picking up items <br />that are to be dry cleaned off-site at a plant located elsewhere in the city or within the region. <br /> <br />Staff suggests to the City Council that dry cleaning plants be allowed as a conditional use in the <br />Downtown, C3 Highway Commercial, and the Light Industrial Districts. Dry cleaning pick up <br />stations would be allowed as a permitted use in all commercial districts. Staff would suggest that <br />a dry cleaning plant could be consistent with typical Medium Industrial uses such as auto repair <br />shops or light manufacturing. <br /> <br />Planning Commission Action <br /> <br />No one spoke for or against the proposed ordinance amendment at the Planning Commission <br />public hearing of March 22, 2005. The Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval <br />of the request to the City Council. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />Staff recommends that the City Council approve the ordinance amendment relating to dry <br />cleaning establishments which will establish definitions and establish locations where such uses <br />may be conditional and/or permitted. <br /> <br />S:\PLANNING\Case Files\200S\OA 05-03 Drycleaning\04 04 05 CC Memo,doc <br />