10-21-1996 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk River City Council Minutes Page 9 October 21, 1996 debris, or abandoned motor vehicles. Kendra Lindahl further indicated that the use of the site has expanded beyond the scope of the approved site plan. Ms. Lindahl informed the Council that Mr. Charest has been given three options by staff which are: 1.) comply with the approved site plan by removing junk and debris, complying with the landscape plan in keeping the storage within the small area approved in 1995; 2.) apply for a conditional use permit for a junkyard in an 12 zone; 3.) apply for a conditional use permit for outdoor storage accessory to a principle use in I1. Kendra Lindahl also informed the Council that Mr. Charest has been issued a stop work order to discontinue the grading and other construction until this item is reviewed by the Mayor and City Council. Kendra Lindahl indicated that Jim Charest is requesting a zone change from light industrial to medium industrial, a comprehensive land use plan amendment from light industrial to medium industrial, and a conditional use permit to operate a junkyard in the medium industrial zoning district. Mayor Duitsman opened the public hearing. Jim Charest informed the Council that he was in the process of complying with the site plan stipulations. He indicated that he is in the process of replacing the berm with fencing, however, staff has issued a stop work notice on the fence. Councilmember Scheel argued that the equipment on Mr. Charest's property did not fall in the definition of a junkyard. She indicated that she had no way of knowing whether the cars were junk vehicles or running vehicles. She further indicated that according to the ordinance and the list of equipment presented by staff, it did not appear that Mr. Charest was in violation of the city's ordinance pertaining to junkyards. Councilmember Scheel requested to continue this issue until she had a chance to look at the situation. Judy Thompson, Planning Commission Representative, indicated that the Planning Commission felt that the drainage problems, the debris on the land, and the fence material were all nonconforming and therefore the Planning Commission recommended denial of all three requests. Kendra Lindahl distributed photographs taken at Mr. Charest's property on September 26, 1996. The City Attorney requested that the photographs be entered into the record as an exhibit. There being no further comments, Mayor Duitsman closed the public hearing. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO DENY THE ZONE CHANGE AND COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO MEDIUM INDUSTRIAL BASED ON THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS: THIS PROPOSED JUNKYARD IS A VERY INTENSE USE FOR THIS LOCATION, AND MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATELY LOCATED IN ANOTHER AREA WHERE IT IS MORE COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING LAND USES. THE PROPOSED REZONING AND LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT WOULD IMPACT THE CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY OF THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREAS. THIS PROPOSED JUNKYARD IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR EAST HIGHWAY 10.