Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 04/11/2013

Home

Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson stated an interim use could be approved to establish a timeline framework. He indicated the applicants may not be willing to proceed given the expense that would be invested into the buildings. Development Services Manager Gladhill noted the short-term goals could be written into the long- term vision for this area. Commissioner Bauer requested additional information from staff on the differences between a licensed use and conditional use permit. Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson indicated a conditional use permit would allow the shooting range to be a permitted use with conditions addressing exterior concerns of the site. The conditional use permit would be tied to the land and would require a public hearing. A licensing procedure would be completed via staff, would be tied to the user and could be revoked if standards were not met within City Code. A license would have to be received on an annual basis. Commissioner Bauer questioned if both a conditional use and license could be required. Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson commented this would require a Zoning Code Amendment to add the need for a license and/or a conditional use permit for the suggested use. Chair Levine stated the current property was vacant and he wanted to see the site more viable. Development Services Manager Gladhill indicated by expanding the allowed uses in this commercial area to match the market the site would be more viable. However, this would have to be considered with the appropriateness of the area in the City of Ramsey. Commissioner Bauer stated an interim use permit for the shooting range would not benefit the applicant due to the financial investments they would have to make in the building. He commented the applicant may not proceed if the City only gave them a five-year approval. Commissioner Schiller was in favor of allowing the range as a permitted use as it would draw people to the area. He did not support the additional licensing procedure. Commissioner VanScoy suggested the proposed shooting range go through the conditional use permit process. Commissioner Field supported the sporting use and thought this use would become a magnet to draw users from the entire community to this commercial area. He recommended the range proceed as a permitted use so long as Zoning Code requirements were met. Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson stated parking and noise regulations would have to be addressed based on the size of the shooting range, training space and retail component size.