Minutes - Council - 07/08/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Processing, Inc.). City Code states that the applicant has one year to initiate the conditional use permit unless they request and receive an extension. The extension must be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council. St. Paul Terminals did not initiate their conditional use permit by June 26, 2002. On March 20, 2002, the City received a written request from Bradley J. Martinson, legal representative for St. Paul Terminals, requesting an extension to initiate the conditional use permit. The stated reason for the delay in initiating the use is economic conditions in the recycling industry. The City Council granted St. Paul Terminals a one-year extension to complete their conditional use permit by June 26, 2003. On April 30, 2003, the City received a letter from Bradley J. Martinson, legal representative for St. Paul Terminals, stating that St. Paul Terminals will be open for business on a limited basis, but is not likely that they will be able to completely' implement the conditions of the conditional use permit prior to June 26, 2003. Consequently, St. Paul Terminals requested another extension of the conditional use permit. The request for extension must be reviewed by the Planning Commission prior to City Council action. Staff received the request the day the June Planning Commission agenda was published and distributed April 30th. The next Planning Commission meeting wasn't scheduled until July 10th, which meant that the Permit would expire before the Planning Commission and City Council could conduct the necessary reviews. On June 24, 2003, the City Council approved a 21-day extension to the conditional use permit to provide sufficient time for proper reviews in accordance with City Code. The request for extension was reviewed by the Planning Commission at their special meeting on Wednesday, June 25th. Staff reported that since the conditional use permit was first issued, the Economic Development Authority has identified a Critical Blight Redevelopment Area in the vicinity of 141st Avenue NW., Basalt Street NW and Azurite Street NW, which includes the St. Paul Terminals property. The City has ordered plans and specifications to install municipal water, sanitary sewer, and street improvements on 141st Avenue to spark redevelopment of this blighted area. In addition, the conditional use permit was issued to Lots 1 and 2, Block 4, Gateway North Industrial Park Plat 2; Lot 2 has been sold. The Planning Commission formed findings of fact and recommended that the City Council deny the request for extension. In lieu of the fact that the proposed recycling facility has not developed in two years, City staff recommended that City Council eliminate the use restrictions (recycling) on this property by denying the request for extension of the conditional use permit. Bradley Martinson, Attorney representing St. Paul Terminals, Inc., stated that he felt that there had been a failure of communication on the issue. In June 2002, when the last extension was granted, Mr. Shot, his son, and City staff members met to discuss future plans for the property. At that time, Mr. Shot was discussing the idea of building a state of the art recycling center and looking for any help the City could offer. Along with that they discussed a possible land swap. That discussion did not get very far, which had to do with the economy and St. Paul Terminals. After those discussions Mr. Shot did get in touch with an Engineering firm to draft a sketch of how the facility might work if the land swap were to occur. Obviously the development of the facility takes money and at the time St. Paul Terminals did not have the money and still does not. Mr. Shot indicated to him that those discussions ended when the City stated that the ball was in their court, meaning the City. Since that time Mr. Shot entered into discussions with Tom Sauter who expressed interest in purchasing Lot 2 and that transaction did occur. Nothing ever came of the discussions with the City and at the end of April of this year, Mr. Martinson became nervous because the extension was about to expire. On April 29th, Mr. Martinson wrote a letter to the City Council/July 8, 2003 Page 19 of 30