Agenda - Planning Commission - 01/07/2016

Home

Regular Planning Commission 5. 2. Meeting Date: 01/07/2016 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title: PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Resolutions #16-01-012 and #16-01-013 Related to a Request for a Home Occupation Permit for a Food Truck Business with a Commercial Grade Kitchen on the Property Located at 7960 171st Lane NW (Project No. 16-04); Case of John and Anne Reineck Purpose/Background: The City has received an application for a Home Occupation Permit from John and Anne Reineck (the "Applicant") to operate a food truck business with a commercial grade kitchen for food preparation on the property located at 7960 171st Lane NW (the "Subject Property"). The Applicant is not the fee owner of the Subject Property yet; however, it is for sale and the current owner of the Subject Property has signed the application as well. If approved and if the home is still available, the Applicant would purchase and occupy the home on the Subject Property. The food truck business would be a part-time operation as the Applicants both hold full-time employment in other fields. The food truck itself and a smaller support vehicle would both be stored out of view in a pole building in the rear yard with a newly constructed driveway. The Applicants are proposing to transform part of the house's three -car attached garage into a commercial kitchen where they would do food preparation. All actual business and selling of food would be conducted off-site using the food truck and support vehicle. The Applicants' food truck business would not have any additional employees who do not live at the Subject Property so the only traffic impacts to the neighborhood would be the food trucks themselves coming and going 2-3 times per week as well as a once or twice monthly delivery of supplies. The commercial kitchen will be contained within the garage and concealed from view with the exception of a smoker that vents into the rear yard through an exterior venting system. The Applicant has offered to construct a wood fence around the back area of the garage to fully screen the smoker and exhaust vents from view. This smoker is anticipated to be used roughly twice a month. Notification: Staff attempted to notify all Property Owners within a 350 foot radius of the Properties of the Public Hearing via Standard US Mail. The Public Hearing was also published in the City's official newsletter, the Anoka County Union Herald. Observations/Alternatives: The Applicant currently owns and operates a part-time food truck business. Both Applicants have full-time jobs and operate their food truck business primarily on the weekend. The Applicants have been operating their food truck business out of their home in Fridley for several years and there have been no documented complaints or issues related to its operationn. They are looking to relocate to Ramsey and would like to expand their business with the addition of on-site food preparation. The Applicant has identified the Subject Property as a desirable location and is attempting to obtain a Home Occupation Permit for their business operation prior to acquiring the Subject property. The only commercial activities that would occur on the Subject Property include food preparation and loading and unloading their food truck. There would be no retail activities occurring on the Subject Property, nor would there be any customers coming to/from the Subject Property. The Subject Property is approximately 2.26 acres in size and is located within the R-1 Residential (Rural Developing) zoning district. The surrounding properties are of similar size and are within the same zoning district. There are two (2) detached accessory buildings on the Subject Property as well as a three (3) car attached garage.