5.5 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• Planning Commission April 23, 1996 Page 5 research. Its mission is research. Its function is research. It employs research scientists and technicians. No one has ever before suggested any interpretation of the I-1 zone that would exclude the ANC from the permitted research category, nor would such an interpretation be reasonable given the long history of Cargill's operations. Accordingly, we do not understand why this non-conforming use question has been raised at this time. Because it has, however, the City should now confirm that the ANC is a permitted use in the I-1 zone. There can be no serious question that Cargill's activities at this site, for decades, has always conformed to local land use requirements. As long as this confirmation is provided, Cargill has no objection to the proposed rezoning as detailed more fully below. Response to Planning Staff Options We understand from Planning staff's memorandum that it is currently considering four options to the non-conforming use issue it has raised. As outlined above, we believe the question is best resolved by clarifying that the ANC is a permitted "research laboratory" use in the I-1 zone. Our position on each of the four options raised by the • Planning staff is summarized more specifically below: Staff Option 1: Continue with Rezoning as Proposed This option is appropriate as long as the City confirms that the ANC is a permitted use as a "research laboratory" in the I-1 District. This is a reasonable interpretation of the Zoning Code and would be the most expeditious alternative for resolving this issue. If the City cannot provide this confirmation, then Cargill agrees with the Planning staff that this option is completely unacceptable. We have invested millions of dollars in the ANC since it was constructed in 1958. Less than one year ago, Cargill was granted a permit by the City to build a new $3 Million swine research facility at the ANC. The ANC is an integrated research facility. To rezone the proposed area to make part of the ANC a non-conforming use would not only represent poor planning by the City, it would be directly contrary to Cargill's reasonable, investment-backed expectations. Staff Option 2: Adjust the Boundary of the Proposed Rezoning This option is unacceptable to us. Again, the ANC is an integrated research facility with all portions of the site contributing to Cargill's operations. Drawing an arbitrary line between individual structures on some theory that they may or may not fall • within some unidentified definition of "feedlot" has no basis in fact and inevitably would lead to future confusion. The entire center serves a singular purpose - agricultural