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City Council Minutes February 21, 1984 Page Seven request for the future, should the Masonic Lodge lose the tennant they now have. Councilmember Engstrom indicated that he felt the Masonic Lodge was an asset to the community and therefore, was in favor of granting the variance request for the division of space. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that the building was there, it was a nonconforming use but that the amortization period for the nonconforming use was sixty years. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that should the Masonic Lodge have financial problems and the building were to be sold, what were the alternatives? Councilmember Gunkel further indicated that she viewed the request as Councilmember Engstrom did; that is, that it was a request for the division of space. Councilmember Gunkel further indicated that new types of businesses could perhaps be less disruptive to the community than the present occupant. Councilmember Gunkel further indicated that the City Council could place various conditions and restrictions on the variance, should it be granted. General discussion was carried on regarding the types of businesses that could occupy the Masonic Lodge, number of vehicle restrictions that could be placed upon the Masonic Lodge, and the various ways the conditional use could be handled by the City Council. The City Administrator indicated that the City Council could deal with specific concerns through the conditions in the granting of the variance request. Further discussion was carried on regarding the type of renters, the location of the pro- perty, and business controls that could be placed on the variance request. Discussion was also carried on regarding the granting of the variance with the two- year condition and should it not be used, would the variance request lapse. The City Administrator indicated that if the variance request was not used, it would lapse if the two-year condition was placed on the variance, but further indicated that with the Lakeland Communications occupying the Lodge, the variance request would be implemented. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE MASONIC LODGE NONCONFORMING USE VARIANCE REQUEST BE CONTINUED UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT A MEETING BETWEEN REPRESENT- ATIVES OF THE MASONIC LODGE, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CITY COUNCIL BE HELD TO DISCUSS THE CONDITIONS OF THE VARIANCE REQUEST. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 3-0. A joint meeting of three Masonic Lodge representatives, three neighborhood repre- sentatives and the City Council was scheduled for March 6th at the Masonic Lodge at 7:30 p.m. 11. Pay Estimate for Gates Avenue Improvement Project COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVE PAY ESTIMATE NUMBER 6 FOR THE GATES AVENUE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,107. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 3-0. 11~.Transient Merchant Ordinance Amendment The City Administrator indicated that the ordinance amendment was basically proposed