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Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION <br /> River <br /> TO ITEM NUMBER <br /> Planning Commission 4.1 <br /> AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY <br /> Planning October 9,2012 Jeremy Barnhart,Planning Manager <br /> ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By <br /> Request by City of Elk River for Ordinance Amendment <br /> Relating to Outdoor Storage in the Business Park Zoning REVIEWED BY <br /> District,Public Hearing- Case No. OA 12-04 <br /> ACTION REQUESTED <br /> Staff recommends adoption of the ordinance as drafted,allowing outdoor storage as a conditional use <br /> permit in the Business Park zoning district. <br /> OVERVIEW <br /> The City has been approached by a business owner in the Business Park zoning district with a desire to <br /> secure an area of his property for outdoor storage,to store equipment and some supplies,accessory to an <br /> existing permitted use. Outdoor storage is not permitted in the Business Park zoning district,though it is <br /> permitted in the I-1 and I-3 industrial zones. <br /> To allow outdoor storage,the ordinance must be amended. Staff is proposing a change that would allow <br /> it as a conditional use, and with specific design criteria intended to minimize the negative impacts <br /> outdoor storage areas bring. <br /> BACKGROUND/PRECEDENT <br /> The Business Park zoning district was originally envisioned as a higher quality development district, <br /> intended to draw high concentrations of employment and manufacturing to Elk River. There is <br /> approximately 400 acres of business park zoned property,about 140 is undeveloped. Higher quality was <br /> achieved through the adoption of design standards employing high quality building materials,location of <br /> overhead doors, and landscaping,and through the lack of accessory structures and outdoor storage. <br /> Part of the challenge with outdoor storage is the screening. 'While ground level screening can be <br /> relatively easy to achieve,the business park district envisions higher density offices in addition to the <br /> manufacturing uses. Screening from multi-level buildings will be challenging and could affect the <br /> character of the neighborhood. <br /> Not considered as outdoor storage during the conditional use permit for Abra Collision,the storage of <br /> damaged cars was to occur within an 8 foot fenced enclosure. The fence was to be 100% opaque and <br /> constructed of factory finished metal or vinyl. <br /> The business park zoning district was amended in 2007 to allow accessory structures. (OA 07-07) <br /> 'POWERED BY <br /> NATURE <br />