Minutes - Council - 10/12/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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primary concern was that to remove the owner-occupancy requirement could lead to a lack of maintenance on the subject property, and degradation of the surrounding neighborhood. Associate Planner Geisler advised under City Code, a CUP cannot be considered by the City Council until at least 14 days after the Planning Commission public hearing. Due to the need of the sellers to resolve the issues, the applicant is requesting that the City Council consider waiving this requirement. She indicated staff's original recommendation was supportive of the request, because of the major upgrades that have been made to the City's rental licensing requirements. However, on a 3-2 vote, the Planning Commission recommended denial of the amended conditional use permit. Louis Abendroth, 15810 Sodium Street, stated he lives right behind these three owners. Up to now they have been very good neighbors, with no problems or loud noises. There is a problem in that they want to sell the place and make it into two apartments with the owner being off prcmises. If they leave this the way it is with an owner there they are apt to take care of the placc. This property is zoned residential with a special use permit. Now they want to make it residential with two apartments. The people that will be in the apartment do not care; they will pay rent by the month. He stated to him, it seems the City keeps taking steps backwards. The Planning Commission voted it down and said it should come before the Council. He does not want two apartments there; a homeowner is more apt to take care of it and keep it nice in a residential area. Elaine McNagal stated she lives in Plymouth and she and her husband are the potential buyers of this property. The owners have taken beautiful care of the property, which is why they would like to buy it. They had no idea there was this conditional use on the property. Her husband is a carpenter and they became landlords for the first time a year ago this March. They bought a duplex that also has a conditional use permit, which they found out when they bought it. She stated a neighbor to the side of this property came to complain at the public hearing, and when he tbund out they own the other property he dropped his complaint. She stated these are real concerns, but they do not rent month to month; most landlords do not do this. They have two renters in their building, who both have owned houses before they became renters. Renters do the same as homeowners; they reside and they care about their property. She explained the only reason they would not move here is that they like the house where they live. Barbara Lee stated she is one of the current owners of the property. They started out as renters at the address the prospective buyers now own at 16000 Nowthen Boulevard. She stated all renters arc not bad; she and her mother have been renters all their lives. Lynn Ellen stated she is another owner of this property. When they purchased the house it had the conditional use permit. The previous owner was not there, she was out of state for work. Mayor Gamec commented when this conditional use permit was passed they wanted the owners to be residents of the building because they felt it would be more secure and they would take more pride in the property. He noted there is rental property in the City and most of it is in very good shapc. City Council/October 12, 2004 Page 11 of 30