Agenda - Council - 03/12/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Petrow recommended the hours of operation be restricted in order to reduce the impact on the neighborhood. Lowell Parsons, 15813 Nowthen Boulevard, stated he lived to the north of the subject property. He questioned if any of the Commissioners would like to have this property behind their home. He explained he worked 60 hours a week to maintain his property and feared his property would be devalued by the proposed rezoning. He feared the City was going down a slippery slope. He encouraged the Commission to reevaluate the situation and to become more compassionate to the adjacent residents. He explained alcohol did not need to sold in a neighborhood. Motion by Commissioner VanScoy, seconded by Commissioner Surma, to close the public hearing. Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Bauer, Commissioners VanScoy, Surma, Anderson, Gengler, and Woestehoff. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Onyambu. Chairperson Bauer closed the public hearing closed at 7:51 p.m. Commission Business Community Development Director Gladhill explained the cafe/on-sale liquor sales language could be removed from the City Code amendment. He commented the Commission could also limit the hours of operation or size of a future restaurant space/outdoor seating. Chairperson Bauer explained the original intent of the Commission was to allow beer or wine at a cafe. He indicated restrictions could be put in place to ensure on -sale liquor was no more than 20% of the restaurants' revenue. He stated this would require any future restaurants to be focused primarily on food and not alcohol. Community Development Director Gladhill reported this could be done but explained this would be difficult for City staff to enforce. He suggested a maximum of 25% of sales receipts be related to on -sale liquor sales. Commissioner Anderson supported eliminating the on -sale liquor sales language completely. He reported this code amendment was for the entire City and not for this one property. He feared that liquor sales in neighborhoods was asking for trouble. Commissioner Woestehoff stated he would like to see the language remain in place as there may be other properties in the City that could benefit from a neighborhood cafe with beer and wine. He explained he would support setting restricted hours of operation. He reported he would be fine living next to the subject property and having several neighborhood businesses in his backyard. Chairperson Bauer explained he used to live in Detroit Lakes and had a supper club 200 feet from his property. He stated he never had a problem and noted the use did not impact his property value.