Minutes - Planning Commission - 10/04/2007

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Mr. Gary Gruber, owner of Diamonds Sports Bar, explained the types of activities they planned on doing with the CUP. He noted all the events would be on Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. He stated the music events would be on Saturdays from 8:00 p.m. to Midnight. Mr. Gruber stated they plan on maintaining the volleyball courts and still have broomball and boot hockey. He stated because it is very difficult to go before the City Council for each special event they plan on doing, his proposal is to plan on having all the dates for the events scheduled and to City staff by the beginning of January for the entire year for review and possible approval all at once. He stated they would prefer to have his CUP amended in a way that would allow him to do these events, instead of applying for a special events permit each time. Ms. Kris Boden, 24 -7 Events, stated she spoke directly with Ray Hybold, Anoka County Fair Director, regarding complaints with the events they have had at the annual fair event and he has indicated that they have not had any complaints from the events they have mentioned. She stated the companies that come on site to do the events are professionals that have done this for many years and their number one concern is the safety for patrons as well as participants. She stated she was also told that the noise from the Motocross was 99 decibels at the highest level, which is less noise volume than a Harley Davidson with pipes. She stated the promoters plan their events one to two years in advance and they will need to book the events by November of this year for the coming year. The Commission discussed with Mr. Gruber the types of events he is looking to hold on the Diamonds property. Chairperson Nixt stated the problem he has with this is they are asking the Commission and Council to approve events in a vacuum. He wanted to know what kind of issues come up on a case by case basis before he would feel comfortable granting a blanket special events approval for the events to be approved. Commissioner Brauer did not think the City could not charge the special events permit fee just because they are packaging their events into one CUP because of all of the time that staff will need to put into review of these events. Associate Planner Dalnes stated the land use needs to be changed whether they need to obtain special events permits or not. She stated in order to do these types of uses they need to amend their CUP. Chairperson Nixt asked if they could grant an Interim Use Permit for these types of events. Associate Planner Dalnes stated an Interim Use Permit could be done as an alternative to a Conditional Use Permit. The Commission discussed with staff and the applicant the Special Events Permit, Conditional Use Permit and Interim Use Permit differences and what can be done regarding reviewing and approving the events. Planning Commission /October 4, 2007 Page 3 of 9