Agenda - Planning Commission - 10/27/2022

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Regular Planning Commission 6. 2. Meeting Date: 10/27/2022 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title: PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Request for an Interim Use Permit to Allow Open and Outside Storage on a Portion of the Property Located at 9525 156th Avenue NW (Project No. 22-138); Case of Name Brand Self Storage Ramsey LLC Purpose/Background: The City has received an application from Josh Peterson (the "Applicant"), on behalf of Name Brand Self Storage Ramsey LLC, requesting an Interim Use Permit (IUP) to temporarily allow open and outside storage on a portion of the property located at 9525 156th Avenue NW (the "Subject Property"). In 2019, the Applicant received Site Plan approval to construct fourteen (14) self -storage buildings on the Subject Property. Presently, five (5) of the fourteen (14) self -storage buildings have been constructed; however, per the Applicant, the demand for self -storage has slowed and thus, the request for a temporary alternative form of storage. Notification: Staff attempted to notify property owners within 350 feet of the Subject Property, as reflected in the Anoka County Property Records, of the request for an Interim Use Permit for open and outside storage and the Public Hearing to be held by the Planning Commission on October 27, 2022. A notice of the Public Hearing was published in the Anoka County UnionHerald, the City's official newspaper. Observations/Alternatives: As noted, a Site Plan was approved by the City in 2019 for fourteen (14) self -storage buildings to be constructed on the Subject Property. The Applicant has completed most of the site improvements, with the exception of nine (9) self -storage buildings and pavement around those nine building pads. A Class V gravel base was installed, pavement is in around the existing five (5) self -storage buildings, there is curb and gutter in around the perimeter of the Subject Property, and all landscaping has been installed. The Applicant has stated that this additional use would provide some added cash flow until the demand for indoor storage units grows again. The Subject Property is approximately 8.5 acres in size, is zoned E-1 Employment District, and is guided as Business Park in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The surrounding properties to the west (in the city of Elk River), south and north are also industrial uses, and they are of similar acreages as well. The property to the north/east, across the BNSF railroad tracks, is the Links at Northfork golf course. The E-1 Employment District does allow open and outside storage as an accessory use or a conditional use if it is the principal use of a property. However, the Applicant has stated that his goal is still to finish out the site improvements in accordance with the 2019 approved Site Plan, which is why this is being processed as an Interim Use Permit. The proposal is to offer open and outside storage to prospective customers for up to four (4) years. The Applicant has noted a demand for this type of self -storage for items such as vehicles, RVs, boats, fish houses, etc. The Applicant has prepared a Site Plan for the proposed open and outside storage, which includes fifty (50) 'storage stalls', each at least sixteen (16) feet in width with a depth of forth (40) feet. As shown on the Site Plan, all the 'storage stalls' would be accessible by a drive aisle that is no less than twenty-eight (28) feet wide, which exceeds the minimum requirement of City Code. The open and outside storage area is proposed to be on the existing Class V gravel base that was previously installed. The proposed area for open and outside storage is in the northern portion of the Subject Property. This would be screened from 156th Avenue by the five (5) existing self -storage buildings. The nearest residential home is