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Memo to Mayor and City Council <br />August 19, 1996 <br /> <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />retail use or allowed as a conditional use and in what zones they should be <br />allowed. The State of Minnesota's definition of pawnshop and pawnbroker <br />will be utilized. Under the existing ordinance, the issue of where pawn shops <br />are allowed is not addressed. In the past they have been treated as a <br />permitted retail use. At this time, the best interpretation is to permit <br />pawnshops as a retail use. <br /> <br />There are three primary planning issues that need to be addressed: <br /> <br />· Should pawn shops be allowed as a permitted retail use or as a <br /> conditional use <br />· In which zoning districts should pawn shops be located <br />· Under what conditions should they be allowed i.e. setbacks from other <br /> land uses <br /> <br />Staff reviewed ordinances from other cities; their requirements for setbacks, <br />whether it is a permitted or conditional use and other licensing requirements <br />are outlined on the attached summary sheet. <br /> <br />Analysis <br /> <br />Permitted or Conditional Use <br /> <br />Two of the seven ordinances reviewed had pawn shops as conditional uses, <br />they are Bloomington and Richfield. In Bloomington, they are allowed as a <br />conditional use in the B-3 (General Business) District. The purpose of this <br />district is to provide centralized areas for businesses that do not belong in <br />shopping centers, and for highway or automobile oriented businesses. <br />Bloomington did not specify in the zoning code what specific conditions or <br />standards will apply to pawn shops; that was addressed in the body of the <br />licensing ordinance. Richfield allows pawn shops as a conditional use in the <br />C-2 District. The remaining five cities allowed pawn shops as a permitted <br />retail use in certain commercial districts <br /> <br />By allowing pawn shops as a conditional use it provides additional time for <br />public comment because a public hearing is required for conditional use <br />permits. Secondly, by requiring a conditional use permit the City has an <br />opportunity to address site plan issues and a forum to correct areas of the site <br />that are not in compliance with the zoning code. These site plan issues <br />include items such as landscaping, parking, curbing and other physical <br />improvements. <br /> <br />s:\planning\scott\oa96-8cc.doc <br /> <br /> <br />