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Planning Commission Minutes September 28, 1999 Page 3 . staff report by Michele McPherson. Tom McKee, representing Allina, requests that 4.5 acres be rezoned from C4, Neighborhood Commercial to C3, Highway Commercial to allow construction of a medical clinic. Ms. McPherson reminded the Commission that if the zone change is approved, a land use change will also be necessary. Ms. McPherson explained the purpose of the C3 zoning, noting that many other parcels along Highway 169 and Highway 10 are zoned C3. She stated that a medical clinic would be consistent with the types of uses found in these areas. Ms. McPherson stated that traffic generated by the clinic would be similar to C3 uses. Staff recommended approval of the rezoning based on the two findings listed in the staff report. Chair Cote opened the public hearing. Linda Olson, neighborhood resident, stated that she supported the location of a clinic on the site, not a liquor store. Eleanor Todahl, resident at Guardian Angels, expressed her support for the rezoning in order to allow Allina to build a health care clinic on the site, since Allina utilizes Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. She explained that it is very difficult to get appointments at Mork Clinic which also uses Mercy, and the Fairview Clinic is associated with Fairview Northland Clinic in Princeton. Mark Davis, representing Timco, explained that Allina was very interested in Elk River and tried to locate on Highway 169 but was not successful. . There being no comments from the public, Chair Cote closed the public hearing. Chair Cote stated that he felt it would be more appropriate to add medical clinics as a conditional use in the C4, rather than rezone the property to C3 an open the door to the possibility of less desirable permitted C3 uses on that particular site. Commissioner Kuester felt the C4 zoning was much more compatible with the surrounding properties. Commissioner Chambers asked why the rezoning to C3 zoning was proposed. Ms. McPherson indicated that the C3 zoning was consistent with other properties with highway frontage such as Highway 169 and East Highway 10. Tom Hartman, owner of the two adjoining lots, asked that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the zone change, unless there was some way to quickly process an ordinance amendment to allow clinics in the C4 zone. Mark Davis stated that Timco proceeded with the zone change upon the city's recommendation. He explained that Allina will not be willing to wait for an ordinance amendment to be processed since they are already behind schedule, and Allina will probably just go away. . COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE ZONE CHANGE REQUEST BY TIM CO, PUBLIC HEARING CASE NO. ZC 99-8, BASED ON THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS: