Minutes - Council - 04/22/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Demaris stated that the Council has already accepted an earlier access management design, but the County and MnDOT are now asking the City to consider the single point access option because there has been success with this at Hanson Boulevard. He stated that they would like the City to concur with this option before the project continues. Mayor Gamec stated that he thinks this is a better option and also saves some property. He stated that he agrees that the Hanson Boulevard intersection is working really well. He noted that this project is still a few years away Motion by Mayor Gamec, seconded by Councilmember Strommen, to select Alternate A5 with Single Point Interchanges at Sunfish Lake Boulevard/THI0 and Ramsey Boulevard/THI0. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Strommen, Dehen, Jeffrey, and Look. Voting No: None. Absent: Councilmembers Elvig and Olson. Case #3: Proposed Ordinance to Amend Regulations Regarding Section 9.11.04 (Home Occupations) of the City Code; Case of City of Ramsey Assistant Community Development Director Frolik stated that at the January 29, 2008 work session, Council directed staff to relax the regulations and simplify the permit process for home businesses. She stated that the Planning Commission held a public hearing at their April meeting and they have recommended that the Council not amend the ordinance. She stated that they had concerns about removing the 3 acre threshold from the requirements. Councilmember Dehen stated that he would like the ordinance to allow the number of non- resident employees to be one. He stated that he thinks the idea was to eliminate the 3 acres to make it possible for people who lived in more urban areas to conduct a home business. Assistant Community Development Director Frolik clarified that the current ordinance has three categories and is shown on page 151 of the packet, but the revised ordinance is outlined at the bottom of page 151 and continues onto 152. Councilmember Dehen reiterated that he would like to eliminate the 3 acres restriction and limit the number of employees to one, non-resident employee. Councilmember Look stated that he watched the Planning Commission meeting and stated that he understood Commissioner Hunt's concern for people who had a small home office with files and a copier and the new ordinance would require them to have a permit through the City. He stated that he is not sure he would like to cast such a large net across the City to include every single home office. He stated that he suggested that the current categories for 1 and 2 be kept as they are and the Council look at changing the third category and eliminate the acreage requirements. He stated that he agrees that there should perhaps be a smaller limit on the number of employees and noted that if a business needs to have 3 employees, perhaps it is time to ~onsider moving to a commercial site. City Council / April 22, 2008 Page 5 of 18