Minutes - Council - 12/18/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

and recreational equipment sales and rental are permitted uses in that district. Outdoor display areas for items for sale or rent is an allowable accessory use in the B-3 Highway Business District. Outdoor storage of items not for sale or rent is not identified as an allowable accessory use in the B-3 Highway Business District. Mr. Wilson currently operates a motor vehicle, implement and recreational equipment sales facility on the property and he has a paved display area for items he sells or rents. (Mr. Wilson also lives in the lawful, non-conforming dwelling on the property.) Mr. Wilson would like to lease the northwest comer of his property for storage of up to 40 travel trailers until May 31, 2002. Because of the limited duration of the outdoor storage use, Mr. Wilson is not proposing to pave or screen the outdoor storage area. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on December 4, 2001, and reviewed the request. Staff noted that during the summer, Mr. Wilson made a good faith effort to bring his property into compliance with City Code with respect to confining his sales operation to the paved portions of his site. Mr. Wilson is also making plans to increase his paved display area in 2002. Additionally, there were several violations in the highway and industrial district last winter involving property owners renting unused portions of their property for the storage of recreational units. At the Planning Commission meeting on December 4, there were a couple of reservations voiced with respect to granting such a permit. How would this affect the City's continuing efforts to get property owners along Highway #10 to invest in some site improvements? Would this be a precedent setting action that would result in similar requests for outdoor storage and no site improvements? The Planning Commission recommended approval of Mr. Wilson's request based on the following: a) the very limited duration of the permit; b) Mr. Wilson's attempt to work within the regulations; and c) the record clearly reflecting that this permit is a one time consideration and will not become standard operating procedure. For the record, it was noted that the day after the Planning Commission, the City did receive a call from another property owner on Highway #10 wanting to be considered for the same type of permit as Mr. Wilson. Councilmember Anderson stated that it appears, after reading the Planning Commission meeting minutes, that the permit will allow them to have more units on their property for sale. Community Development Director Frolik replied that the units will not be placed for sale on the property, but will be stored on the property for other RV Dealers. Councilmember Anderson inquired if they were simply being stored on the site then how would it bring the applicant more sales. Councilmember Hendriksen replied that the applicant would probably be paid a commission if a unit were sold off his property. Community Development Director Frolik explained that RV Dealers typically lo0k for places to store excess inventory of the winter months due to the problem of snow storage. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired as to how authorizing the temporary use would fit into the City's policy of trying to clean up Highway #10. City Council/December 18, 2001 Page 8 of 27