05-21-1984 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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r . City Council Minutes May 21, 1984 Page Two Avenue a~ the Elk River Crete~ operation site. between Proctor I 5. Eckdahl/Kreuser Request for Zoning Ordinance ~endment ~ Continued Public Hearing I Councilmember Gunkel reviewed for the City COU~Cil and the audience present, the information presented at the May 7, 1984 City Council meeting regarding Ms. Eckdahl's and Ms. Kreuser's request for a zoni4g ordinance amendment to allow daycare and preschool facilities as a conditional use in the newly-created C-3B zoning district. Councilmember Gunkel explain~d that the C-3B zoning district was created to allow a combination of commercial and light industrial uses on I highway frontage property in the City of Elk R~ver. Councilmember Gunkel further explained that the Zoning Ordinance currently allows daycare and preschool facilities as conditional uses in R-3, R-4, C-~, C-2 and C-4 zoning districts. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that in the Pla~ning Commissions and City Council's previous discussions of the request, a great d~al of concern was expressed re- garding the safety issue for an operation such!as daycare and preschool facilities. Councilmember Gunkel further indicated that th~ Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial of the request for a zoning I ordinance amendment. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that she had sp6ken with Pat Schomen of the State of Minnesota regarding the safety requirement ~or State licensing of daycare and preschool operations and found that the State has stringent requirements regarding fire codes, building inspection, kit4hen and bathroom facilities and outdoor play areas. Councilmember Gunkel furt~er indicated that although a highway lqcation may not be an ideal location, Ishe was aware of other highway locations for similar facilities such as the o*e on Highway #10 in Anoka, and another located in shopping cenfgr'lfi .Chaska. John Fitzgerald, representative for Ms. Eckdahl and Ms. Kreuser, indicated that he had done research regarding the Planning Co~mission and City Council's con- cerns of the truck traffic in and near the pro~osed daycare and preschool facility site owned by Mr. George Cowles. Mr. I Fitzgerald indicated that the average number of trucks entering and leaving lhe area in question was only four trucks per day with two of those being during the very early morning hours. Mr. Fitzgerald further indicated that the owner of the property has agreed to fencing the parking lot with a high chain link fence to separate the truck traffic area from the area where. children would be arriving and leaving. Mr. Fitzgerald further indicated that he realized that the proposed site located behind Cedar Log Homes on Highway #10 is not the most suitable site, but that it is a workable site and within the budget of Ms. Eckdahl and Ms. Kreuser. Mr. Fitzgerald indicated that the safety of the children would be their largest concern and would take all precautions necessary. Mr. Fitzgerald indicated that Ms. Eckdahl and Ms. Kreuser would enter into an agreement as part of the lease, that the lower space of the building would not be let to anyone proposing to operate a business that would be hazardous to the children utilizing the daycare/ preschool facilities. Mr. Fitzgerald stated that the owner of the property would be doing extensive remodeling to accommodate the proposed daycare/preschool operation. The City Council questioned Mr. Fitzgerald as to how Ms. Eckdahl and Ms. Kreuser could prevent Mr. Cowles from leasing the remainder of the building to any hazardous operations in the future. Mr. Fitzgerald indicated that that question would be addressed at the time the lease agreement was drawn up, that that the