Minutes - Planning Commission - 01/10/1996 - Public Hearing @ 7:54

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PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA The Ramsey Planning Commission conducted a public heating on Tuesday, January 10, 1996 at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard N.W., Ramsey, Minnesota to hear input regarding proposed ordinances to amend Chapters 5 and 9 of Ramsey City Code regarding parking and storing vehicles and equipment in residential districts. Members Present: Chairperson David Bawden Commissioner Ben Deemer Commissioner Paul Holland Commissioner Charles LaDue Commissioner Michael Terry Commissioner Bradley Thorud Also Present: City Engineer Steve Jankowski Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Bawden called the public hearing to order at 7:54 p.m. PRESENTATION Zoning Administrator Frolik stated that the Planning Commission has been working for several months to draft an ordinance to amend City Code to make provisions for parking and storing commercial vehicles in residential districts. Input on this matter was received at a public hearing held on January 2, 1996, and those minutes will be reviewed along with any input received tonight. Ms. Frolik explained that the proposed ordinances are amending Sections 5.12, 9.02 and 9.11 of the Ramsey City Code. CITIZEN INPUT Marlys Williams, 5180 157th Lane N.W. - felt that all inoperable junk cars of any type should be included in the amendment to Chapter 5. She declared that inoperable junk vehicles sitting in the open bring down the property values of all the surrounding properties. She suggested that the definitions contained in Section 9.02 "Definitions - Motor Vehicle, Private Use" should be amended to insert the word inoperable before the words vintage/classic cars. She felt that that by doing so it would eliminate any possible ambiguity in the distinction between inoperable junk vehicles covered under Chapter 5 and vehicles covered by Chapter 9. She stated that "unusable, inoperable, deteriorating, retained for salvage parts is the criteria for determining a vehicle to be a junk vehicle under Chapter 5." She commented that Chapter 9 does not state that a vehicle is allowed if inoperable, and therefore, technically these inoperable classic/vintage cars are covered under Chapter 5. Ms. Williams declared that every citizen has the fight to be protected against declining property values caused by the presence of inoperable junk cars stored in the open on neighboring properties. She stated there has been no citizen input at these meetings expressing an interest in storing junk cars in the open, and in addition, there has been no citizen input at these meetings by neighbors of citizens with junk vehicles asking the City to allow their neighbors to continue to store inoperable junk cars in the open. If allowed to remain, she felt these inoperable cars (regardless of classification of vintage/classic/racing) should be required, at a minimum, to have 90% screening from all neighboring properties and public rights of way. She added that the Public Hearing/Planning Commission/January 10, 1996 Page I of 3