Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/01/2005

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City of Ramsey 15153NOWTHEN BOULEVARD N.W.,RAMSEY, MINNESOTA 55303 · (612) 427-~410 MEMORANDUM DATE: TO: FROM: CC: RE: December 27, 199'I Ramsey City Council Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik City Administrator Ryan Schroeder George Cowles Cowles Addition/Multiple Smactures and Land Uses As you recall, the City Council granted final plat approval to Cowles Addition, a minor subdivision, on December 17, 1991. At that time, it was noted that there are four main buildings, each with a different use, on two lots and City Code limits each lot to one main building. The d/scussion led to the direction that City Staff research to determine which structures and uses are considered to be permitted and which should be considered non,conforming, either lawful or unlawful. There is not enough documentation in the properxy file to determine when each of the four structures were consrr, gcted. So, I reviewed aerials on file at the County Surveyor's office and determined that the structures for the private residence, the former Party House and C&L Canvas- Crab-'ts were built somewhere between 1966 and 1969. The structure housing the auto body Shop was constructed somewhere between 1969 and 197.3. I have not been able to determine when that t]arr of code that limits lots to one maJ. n building was adopted and to do so, would require a ~eat deal of time. In the absence of supporting documentation, the city would have to make a determination in favor of the property owner. That being that all four structures were most likely constructed on the property prior to any code limiting main buildings to One per Iot_ Nov,, that we have established that two main buildings/uses are permitted under today's code and four currenth, exist as lawful non-conforming, we have to determine which two of the structures/uses should be considered permitted and which two should be regulated under the non- cont-orming uses section of the Git5' Code. Since as far back as January, 1977, the property has been zoned Business. Based on that and what the permitted uses are under today's Rural Business zoning, I would make a determination that the catinffdrinking establishment and C&L Canvas Crafts are the permitted uses. The private . residence and the auto body shop are the two uses that should be considered lawful non- conforming and should be regulated accordingly. This means that they may continue to exist but max, not be enlarged and may not be reconstructed if they are ever destroyed to more than 50% of their value, unless done so in confgrmance with City Code. 27