Agenda - Council - 08/24/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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every time there is a need to expand some aspect of the greenhouse facility. However, that approach would not exempt the business owner from the site plan review requirements of City Code for the more permanent type structures like warehouses, 6ffices, shipping and receiving docks; staff would propose that the greenhouses would not be subject to site plan review. Since City Code restricts building coverage in the R-1 District to 35% of the lot area, it seemed appropriate to use that rule as a cap to the size of the greenhouse and related activities. Because the property owner will also be seeking a subdivision approval to separate the homestead from the business operations, City Staff determined that the building coverage calculation for the business operations should be based on 37.5 acres, allowing for a future 2.5 acre homestead lot; The City Engineering Department has calculated that the greenhouse facility is currently at approximately 25% lot coverage, or 405,584 square feet in size. A cap of 35% would allow up to 167,27 i square feet of additional expansions to the facility. Staff also recommended that Mr. Rowe plan for a perimeter buffer yard between his operation and surrounding residential properties. City Code requires a 60 foot wide buffer yard between industrial and residential uses. Mr. Rowe's site plan indicates that he will implement a 65 foot buffer yard around the perimeter of the property. The City Engineering Department has recommended that the applicant obtain a permit from the Lower Rum River Water Management Organization to address the ultimate site development. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing and reviewed the request on August 5, 2004. There were no written or verbal comments from the public at the public hearing. However, there was concern expressed by the Commission that no evaluation of compliance with City Code commercial standards would occur with the addition of greenhouses to the site. The Commission was not comfortable with the fact that staff was proposing that a site evaluation and site plan reviews wouldn't occur until there were additions or expansion of the more permanent type structures like warehouses, loading docks or retail space. Mr. Rowe then presented the Commission with a copy of his 6 Year Growth Plan, noting that his immediate need in 2004 is 30,000 square feet of greenhouse space. The 6 Year Growth Plan identifies a total of 166,560 square feet in lht(~re additions through 2010. Recall that the 35% lot coverage standard would 'allow [br an additional 167,271 square feet in additional structures. Subsequent to the Planning Commission meeting, Mr. Rowe did provide the City Staff with a photo elevation of a greenhouse structure. Recommendation: The Planning Commission amended the proposed findings of fact to reflect Mr. Rowe's immediate need fbr 30,000 square feet of greenhouse space. The Commission feels strongly that the addition of the greenhouses to the site should go through site plan review to afford the City the opportunity to evaluate the site and require upgrades as necessary to bring the facility into confbrmance with current commercial standards. They recommended approval of a Conditional Use Permit fbr a 30,000 square foot greenhouse expansion at this time to facilitate Mr. Rowe's immed,iate needs. That action would be followed up with a subsequent Conditional Use Permit and site plan review for the remainder of Mr. Rowe's 6 Year Growth Plan to allow the Comlnission sufficient time to evaluate the site with respect to current commercial standards.