Minutes - Council - 09/23/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Business. Plants and Things is an existing indoor/outdoor furniture and plant sale facility with outdoor displays, which is a permitted use in this zoning district. He noted that the City Council recently adopted a six-month moratorium on development of properties located north of the Highway 10 corridor. The moratorium took effect on August 25, 2003, and will expire February 25, 2004. This application was received on August 8, 2003 and, therefore, the proposal is not subject to the moratorium. He advised that commercial structures that have a use that is accessory to the principal use are permitted, but under City Code, such use shall not exceed 30% of the gross floor space of the principal use unless the City Council approves additional square footage to be used for accessory structures. The principal building for Plants and Things is a conglomeration of different structures that are all attached and is approximately 15,175 square feet. A total of 4,552 square feet is allowed to be put in accessory use. Plants and Things currently has 3,400 square feet in accessory buildings. The addition of the proposed accessory building along with the existing house and garage adds another 3,739 square feet of accessory uses. Therefore, the total site, after the combination of the lot, will have a total of 7,139 square feet as accessory uses. City Code requires that any overage in the amount of accessory buildings requires City Council approval. The proposed accessory structure is proposed to have primary access from the west along a drive that exits onto Sunfish Lake Boulevard. Long term plans that the applicant has shared with the City indicate that this drive will be fully improved as part of the redevelopment of the site. The property also currently has a driveway access onto Highway 10. In the long term, the City would like to see this access closed to Highway 10. The applicant is not proposing to add any additional landscape, since the land is already heavily treed. No trees will be removed as part of the construction of the accessory building. City Code restricts exterior wall finishes to be natural or prefabricated brick or stone or pre-cast concrete panels or some other material approved by City Council. The applicant is proposing that the building exterior will be vinyl siding to match the existing structures on the site. The use of vinyl siding will need to be approved by the City Council. At their September 4, 2003 meeting, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the site plan request. Given the fact of the Highway 10 moratorium and the fact there is uncertainty on how the corridor will lay out, staff finds the proposed accessory development is acceptable as presented subject to comments contained in the City Staff Review letter dated August 29, 2003, revised September 19, 2003 and the applicant entering into a development permit with the City. Mayor Gamec asked if a statement should be included saying that any future development will require the closure of the Highway 10 access. He stated he has no problem with exceeding the building size but would request that the merchandise be pushed back somewhat from the highway right-of-way. Mayor Gamec stated that is one of the biggest complaints he receives about this property. Assistant Community Development Director Trudgeon stated typically there is a 20-foot green space buffer before merchandise can be displayed He stated that requirement is in the current City Code. Mayor Gamec noted the location of an open structure and suggested the merchandise be placed in alignment with that building, He noted that other business owners cite this property as an example and ask why they are not allowed to display merchandise in a similar maimer. City Council/September 23, 2003 Page 35 of 41