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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />CUP, Sherburne County Grower's Assoc. <br />February 24, 1993 <br /> <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />The Farmers Market plans to locate in the downtown site 1 day <br />per week and at the Cenex site (on west Highway 10) one day per <br />week. Mr. Kennedy indicated the Farmers Market wishes to <br />retain some flexibility regarding the number of days they can <br />operate. Mr. Kennedy also stated they did not want to be <br />locked into a specific day of the week at a particular <br />location. They are also considering locating the Farmers <br />Market in the Jackson Square City parking lot as well as the <br />City parking lot adjacent to the railroad immediately north of <br />the current site. Although staff understands their desire for <br />flexibility, we do feel there should be regulations regarding <br />the day of the week and the location. Staff reminds the City <br />Council conditional use permit requests are site specific. If <br />they choose to locate in a different downtown parking lot, the <br />same issues may not apply and others may take their place. It <br />is important that a general site plan is submitted for each <br />site on which they wish to locate. I will also make note that <br />the City parking lot adjacent to the railroad is zoned C3, <br />Highway Commercial. Farmers Markets are a permitted use in <br />that zoning district, however, City approval is needed because <br />the lot is City owned. The Jackson Square site is zoned Cl and <br />a conditional use permit would be required. <br /> <br />The Farmers Market is anticipating approximately 15-20 <br />vendors. The number of vendors will fluctuate throughout the <br />season. Most will choose to sell from the back of their trucks <br />with some setting up tables in the parking lot area. Currently, <br />the Farmers Market plans to open May 1, 1993, and operate <br />through the end of October. Items for sale would include <br />plants, flowers, vegetables and fruits, honey, and homemade <br />crafts. <br /> <br />PARKING <br /> <br />The Farmers Market would use approximately 32 parking stalls. <br />The site they have chosen contains 74 stalls. I have attached <br />a site plan which shows the location where the Farmers Market <br />would set up. They have chosen to utilize the stalls <br />immediately behind the Elk River Municipal Utilities building. <br />This would allow traffic to flow around 3 sides of the area, <br />however, only pedestrian traffic would be allowed between the <br />isles of the vendors. Mr. Kennedy indicated that blockades of <br />some sort would be set up to prohibit vehicular traffic between <br />these isles. Mr. Kennedy also indicated they would like to <br />block off the area involved with the Farmers Market early on <br />the morning of the event in order to set up. <br /> <br />Staff's main concern with the location of a Farmers Market in <br />this parking lot is the possible interference with the parking <br />needs of adjoining businesses. In 1991, staff conducted an <br />informal parking study in the downtown area. The study involved <br />counting the vacant stalls at various times throughout the day <br />and on varying days throughout the week. For this particular <br />