7.5. SR 08-19-2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Eclty1� ,.,�� Request for Action River To Item Number Mayor and City Council 7.5 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Public Hearin s lAugust 19, 2019 Zack Carlton,Planning Manager Item Description Reviewed by Ordinance Amendment: Warehouse Uses in the Chris Leeseber , Senior Planner Business Park Zoning District Reviewed by Cal Portner, City Administrator Action Requested Hold the public hearing and discuss whether to allow warehousing in the Business Park Zoning District. If Council consensus is to follow the Planning Commission recommendation and not amend the zoning ordinance to allow warehousing in the Business Park zone—no action is required. Alternatively,if the City Council would like to amend the ordinance, direct staff to prepare an ordinance amendment specific to Council's direction. Background/Discussion On June 3, 2019, the City Council directed staff to evaluate a possible ordinance amendment to expand warehousing opportunities in the Business Park (BP) Zoning district. The BP and certain FAST District subzones allow warehousing as a permitted use when the area dedicated to the use is below 50% of the total building floor area, and as a conditional use for up to 65% of the total building floor area. An applicant could also apply for a variance to exceed the warehousing limit. Warehousing is currently allowed as a permitted use,without limits,in the I-1 (Light Industrial),I-2 (Medium Industrial), and I-3 (General Industrial) zoning districts. Planning Commission The Commission discussed the amendment during a work session on June 25, 2019, and held a public hearing on July 23, 2019. The Commission did not feel it was necessary to amend the ordinance to increase the amount of warehouse space permitted under the current ordinance and recommended no changes to the current ordinance. The Commission noted that if an increase to the limit is determined to be appropriate for a specific parcel/area, a zone change to I-1 may be the better option. Allowed uses in both districts are very similar, but the BP includes higher design standards and allows industrial areas closer to commercial and residential areas. Concerns with increased traffic and loss of job generating businesses due to an increase in warehousing were also noted by the Commission. Additional comments from the public have not been received. Attachments ■ Planning Commission Packet dated July 23, 2019 The Elk River Vision A PehoMing community 2a itb revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional POWERED By service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity INAMIRE1