Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/24/2023

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Senior Planner Anderson commented that he believes that there are at least five that would fall under the category of multiple licenses, noting that one has 20 to 25 licenses under one roof while there are at least two businesses that operate with two licenses. Commissioner Heineman stated that in the scenario where there are two license holders, he would hate to see a scenario where one person leaves and the other cannot afford the rent on their own and has to shutdown as well. He stated that in his opinion he would prefer to either allow the businesses that are here to stay or to take the strong stance that the City wants them out. He stated that he would be fine allowing those businesses to remain as they currently operate. Commissioner Van Scoy commented that he does not believe EIFS itself is the issue, but the issue is in design. He believed the appropriate regulation would be design standards. Commissioner Hunt asked if the limitations on all materials would then be dropped. Commissioner Van Scoy agreed. Commissioner Hunt asked if the 70 percent threshold for primary materials would then be dropped as well. Commissioner Van Scoy noted that would need to come under design standards and they would need to take time to do that in the right way. Commissioner Anderson commented that he does not have a problem with the material but is concerned with the final appearance. He noted that the Commission was still able to provide input on the design through the sketch plan review for Aldi recently. Planning Manager Larson replied that Aldi was not a sketch plan and noted that a single building does not require a sketch plan. He stated that a sketch plan comes forward for platting and noted that Aldi came forward in a concept plan review. He stated that staff did not believe that the design standards were met, and Aldi wanted it to go forward to the Commission and Council to gain their input on the design standards. He stated that if a building comes forward and they do not like it, there needs to be a standard to fall back on. He stated that if those thresholds of materials were removed, there would be nothing to fall back on that would prohibit a large, flat wall. He noted that the language proposed by the earlier individual would cause a substantial jump in architectural standards and provided an example of a building that is being constructed currently that would not be allowed. He stated that the language provided by that speaker would be a very, very, very different approach for Ramsey. He stated that the previous direction from the Commission was to keep it simple, which is what they did. Commissioner Van Scoy stated that if the desire is not to have a large, blank wall that should be done through standards rather than limiting the use of certain material. Commissioner Heineman used the example that a building were proposed out of birch wood, or completely white siding, and asked how the City would regulate that. He commented that it seems that people do not have an issue with the material but want it to look good. Planning Commission/ July 27, 2023 Page 15 of 18