6.5. & 6.6. SR 08-18-1997._.ity of
River
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Item# 6.5. & 6.6.
MEMORANDUM
-Plan.ih,g ~
Scott Harlicker, Planning Assistant~
August 18, 1997
SUBJECT:
Request by the City of Elk River for
Land Use Amendment and Rezoning,
Public Hearing Case No.'s LU 97-4
and ZC 97-5
Request
The City of Elk River is initiating this land use amendment from HB
(Highway Business) to LI (Light Industrial) and rezoning from C3 (Highway
Commercial) to I1 (Light Industrial).
Location
The property under consideration is located at the southwest corner of
Highway 169 and Main Street.
Zoning/Land Use
C3 (Highway Commercial) / HB (Highway Business)
Attachments
Location map
Land use map
· List of allowed uses in the Business Park district
· Resolution No. 97-
· Ordinance No. 97 -
Overview
The approximately 7.5 acres is currently zoned C3 (Highway Commercial)
and has a land use designation of HB (Highway Business). The adjacent
zoning and land use designations are as follows:
13065 Orono Parkway * P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Memo to the Mayor and City Council
August 18, 1997
Page 2
North - C3 (Highway Commercial); HB (Highway Business)
South - I1 (Light Industrial); LI (Light Industrial)
East- C3 (Highway Commercial); HB (Highway Business)
West - R3 (Townhouse/Multiple Family) and C2 (Office District; HR (High
Density Residential), MR (Medium Density Residential) and CB (Central
Business)
Existing land uses include a chiropractic office fronting on Main Street, there
is a billboard on the corner of Main Street and Highway 169 and the
remainder of the property is undeveloped. Adjacent land uses include the
United Power Association facility and the City of Elk River sewage treatment
plant to the south, Highway 169 and a mobile home park to the east and
Main street and a SuperAmerica convenience store to the north. To the west
of the old county ditch is a mix of land uses including land that is
undeveloped, duplexes and single family residences.
The property has approximately 1000 feet of frontage on Highway 169. The
physical characteristics of the property includes a wooded berm along
Highway 169 and the old county ditch, which forms the western boundary of
the area under consideration. Behind the berm the property drops off to the
ditch. There appears to have been some filling of the area behind the berm.
Except for the pines trees on the berm and the landscaping and trees around
the chiropractor's office, there is very little vegetation on the property.
Changing the land use designation and rezoning this area would not impact
the existing chiropractor's office. Professional offices are a permitted use in
the BP (Business Park) district
Background
Most of the property was rezoned from R3 to C3 in February 1996. The area
that was the subject of that rezoning is owned by Earl Hohlen; the property
that includes the chiropractor's office was not included in that rezoning. The
1996 rezoning was initiated so that the zoning would be consistent with the
1995 changes in the land use map.
On May 19,1997 the City Council adopted an Economic Development
Strategic Plan. The City initiated this rezoning request in order to implement
some of the goals and priorities identified in that plan. One of the major
issues identified in the economic development plan was to increase the city's
industrial base. This area was identified as an area that was suitable for the
type of development allowed in the BP (Business Park) zone. Attached is a
list of the uses allowed BP district.
k\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\scott\zc97-Scc.doc
Memo to the Mayor and City Council
August 18, 1997
Page 3
The BP district allows a variety of uses, both commercial and light industrial
in nature. The BP district was intended to allow the commercial type uses,
such as hotels/motels and class I restaurants, in areas where the underlying
land use classification is commercial. Office and light industrial type uses,
such as business offices, research and development laboratories and light
manufacturing would be allowed in areas that have an underlying land use
classification of light industrial. In this case, the underlying land use
classification is proposed to be light industrial, therefore, the uses allowed on
this property will be office and light industrial type uses.
By amending the land use designation of this area to LI and rezoning it to BP
the following will be accomplished:
expansion of the city's industrial base
· allow development that is complementary and compatible with adjacent
land uses
· allow development at a major intersection (Main Street / Highway 169)
while minimizing increases in traffic on to Main Street
Expansion of industrial base
The proposed land use amendment and rezoning would reflect goals and
policies identified in the Comprehensive Plan and the recently adopted
Economic Development Strategic Plan. The Comprehensive Plan's policies
regarding industrial development includes encouraging industrial expansion
in close proximity to existing services and locating it next to an adequate
transportation network; the proposed land use amendment and rezoning
accomplishes this.
The Economic Development Strategic Plan also identified expansion of the
industrial base as one of it's major issues and goals. This area was one of the
8 areas identified in that plan as suitable for industrial development.
Allow development that is complementary and compatible with adjacent land
uses
Many of the uses that might be allowed on this site under the business park
zoning classification, such as a business office, research and development
laboratories and light manufacturing, would be complementary and
compatible with the adjacent highway commercial zoning to the north and
west and the light industrial zoning to the south. These same uses, even
though they may not be entirely compatible with the residential zoning to the
east, would probably have less of an impact than would a shopping center or
\\elkriver\sys\shrdockplanning\scott\zc97-Scc.doc
Memo to the Mayor and City Council
August 18, 1997
Page 4
car dealership which are allowed under the existing highway commercial
zoning.
The business park district includes performance standards such as increased
setbacks for buildings and parking areas, architectural standards, and
landscaping and sign requirements that are not found in the highway
commercial district. These performance standards, in addition to those
relating to screening and buffering of parking areas, loading areas and other
non-residential uses, will help mitigate the impacts on the adjacent
residential district.
Allow development at a major intersection (Main Street / Highway 169) while
minimizing increases in traffic
The proposed land use amendment and rezoning will allow this area to be
fully developed while minimizing increases in traffic. The retail and shopping
centers, convenience stores and car washes currently allowed under the
existing zoning generate high levels of traffic; these types of uses would not
be allowed in the proposed BP district. The goal would be to attract uses such
as business offices and research and development facilities which need access
to highways but do not generate the high levels of traffic.
Planning Commission Meeting
At the Planning Commission meeting held on July 22, 1997, the two affected
property owners, Earl Hohlen and Dr. Howard Johnson, spoke out against
the proposed rezoning; they both would like their property to stay zoned
highway commercial. Dr. Johnson, owner of the chiropractor office, felt that
there would be access problems; it is likely that access to this area would be
through his property and he did not want truck traffic going through his
property. Mr. Hohlen also questioned access to his property, he said his
property was setup to accommodate commercial development, not the type of
development allowed under zoning as business park. Steve Stewart, resident
of Elk River, also spoke against rezoning these properties to business park.
The Planning Commission agreed that there is a need for additional acreage
to accommodate the type of development allowed in the business park
district. They discussed the property owners concern regarding access and
felt that access would be less of a problem if the properties were zoned
business park than it would be if zoned highway commercial. After a
discussion regarding the affected property owners desire not to have their
property rezoned the Commission voted 4:2 to recommend approval of the
rezoning to business park; the 2 dissenting Commissioners voted against the
rezoning because of the property owners were against the rezoning.
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\scott\zc97-5cc.doc
Memo to the Mayor and City Council
August 18, 1997
Page 5
Recommendation
The Planning Commission and staff recommend that the City Council
approve the attached Resolution No. 97- amending the Land Use Plan
based on the following findings:
THE AMENDMENT TO THE LAND USE MAP IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN IN THAT:
THE AREA UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL LAND USE
DESIGNATION IS ADJACENT TO OTHER INDUSTRIAL ZONED PROPERTY AND IS
ADJACENT TO HIGHWAY 169, WHICH CAN PROVIDE FOR THE ADEQUATE
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS REQUIRED FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
Is)
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUATION OF WELL
DESIGNED EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY
TO THE COMMUNITY.
c)
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL ALLOW FOR A REZONING THAT WILL
ENCOURAGE WELL DESIGNED BUILDINGS THAT ARE VISUALLY CONSISTENT
WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA.
D)
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL ENCOURAGE INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION IN
CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EXISTING SERVICES.
The Planning Commission and staff recommend that the City Council
approve of the attached Ordinance No. 97__ rezoning certain property
from C3 (Highway Commercial) to BP (Business Park) based on the
following:
THE REZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN
DESIGNATION OF LI (LIGHT INDUSTRIAL).
TIMES AND CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED TO WARRANT AN EXTENSION OF
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THIS AREA OF HIGHWAY 169.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN HAS IDENTIFIED THIS AREA AS
SUITABLE FOR THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT ALLOWED UNDER BP ZONING.
THE PROPOSED BP ZONED PROPERTY IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO HIGHWAY 169
WHICH CAN MEET THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF BUSINESS PARK DEVELOPMENT.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE URBAN SERVICE AREA AND IS WITHIN CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO EXISTING SERVICES.
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Or°no P=~y. P. 0. Bo~ ~90 CASE: ZC 97-5
Elk River, MN 553:0
PARK
LOCATION
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178TH
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176TH
175TH
174TH
173RD
172ND
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MILLS:DE
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CI"FY PARK
City of
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
LAND US
- MAP
iver
CASE:
xix.
XX.
xxi.
Government buildings and facilities
Mini storage
Ail uses allowed as a conditional use in the I1
zone ~
16. B-P Business Park
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The Business Park District is established
to encourage a planned, integrated environment for certain
industrial, office, and limited commercial uses which are
compatible with and compliment each other as well as the
surrounding land uses.
It is the intent of this ordinance that development reflects
common themes using compatible architectural design and
consistency in signage, landscaping, and lighting. It is also the
intent to encourage businesses which generate a high number of
jobs per square foot rather than predominately warehouse type
uses.
A. Permitted Uses
i. Light manufacturing
ii. Research and development laboratories
iii. Governmental, business, and professional offices
iv. Mail order operations
v. Telecommunication operations
vi.
vii.
Financial institutions
Personal sez-vice establishments
ix.
Health athletic clubs
Restaurants (Class I)
B. Accessorv Uses:
i. Off-street parking lots or facilities
ii. Private recreational facilities
9.42
iii. Public sheltersland essential services
C. Conditional Uses: 3
i. Any permitted use which involves more than 30%
warehouse space
ii. Hotels and motels
iii.' Licensed da~ care facilities
iv. Retail shops and stores which compliment and serve
the Business Park subject to the standards set forth in
2(j) below.
v. Vocational, technical, and trade schools
vi. Motor vehicle specialty service stations
vii. Multiple buildings on a lot
viii. Above ground storage tanks
STA/qDARDS:
A. Minimum lot size - one and one-half (i 1/2) acres
B. Buildinq setbacks (minimum)
i. Front Yard - Thirty-five (35) feet, or one-half
(1/2) the total building height whichever is greater.
ii. Side Yard - Twenty (20) feet, or one-half (1/2)
the total building height, whichever is greater.
iii. Rear yard - Twenty (20) feet, or one-half (1/2)
the total building height, whichever is greater.
iv. Ail setbacks shall be determined from the planned
right-of-way (ROW), as designated in the City, County,
I~ or State Transportation Plan, and normally defined in
the subdivision regulations.
C. Parkinq Lot Setbacks (minimum)
i. Front Yard - Twenty-five (25) feet.
ii. Side Yard Twenty (20) feet.
9.43
CITY OF ELK RIVER
RESOLUTION NO. 97-
A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
TO CHANGE THE LAND USE OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES FROM
HB (HIGHWAY BUSINESS) TO LI (LIGHT INDUSTRIAL),
CASE NO. LU 97-4
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 462.355, Subdivision 2,
prescribes the procedure for amending the Comprehensive Plan, and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing August 18,
1997, and recommended approval regarding the Comprehensive Plan
amendment request for the property generally described as:
See Attached Exhibit A
and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the Comprehensive Plan
amendment request and finds the change to be in general conformance to the
adopted Comprehensive Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City
of Elk River that the Land Use Plan be amended to change the property as
described above from HB (Highway Business) to LI (Light Industrial).
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Elk River this
,1997.
day of
ATTEST:
Henry A Duitsman, Mayor
Sandra A. Thackeray, City Clerk
e:\shrdoc\document\resoluti\lu97-7.doc
EXHIBIT A
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75-430-~
STREET (CO. RD. t 12)
STR~-ET
140
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ORDINANCE 97-
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
CITY OF ELK RIVER ZONING MAP TO REZONE CERTAIN
PROPERTY FROM C3 (HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL) TO
I1 (LIGHT INDUSTRIAL)
CASE NO. ZC 97-5
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as
follows:
Section 1. The duly adopted Zoning Map of the City of Elk River is
hereby amended to rezone the property described as:
See Attached Exhibit A
Section 2. The rezoning is being approved based on the following
findings:
o
THE REZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN
DESIGNATION OF LI (LIGHT INDUSTRIAL).
TIMES AND CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED TO WARRANT AN EXTENSION OF
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THIS AREA OF HIGHWAY
169.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN HAS IDENTIFIED THIS AREA
AS SUITABLE FOR THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT ALLOWED UNDER BP ZONING.
THE PROPOSED BP ZONED PROPERTY IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO HIGHWAY
169 WHICH CAN MEET THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF BUSINESS PARK
DEVELOPMENT.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE URBAN SERVICE AREA AND IS WITHIN
CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EXISTING SERVICES.
Section 3. T~hat this Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force
from and after the date of its publication.
Passed and adopted this __ day of
Council of the City of Elk River.
,1997 by the City
ATTEST:
Henry A. Duitsman, Mayor
Sandra A. Thackeray, City Clerk
\\elkriver\syskshrdoc\document\ordinanc\zc97-5.doc
EXHIBIT A
,tEADOW
STREET (CO. RD. f 12)
140
& ,~
TOR'S
75-404--0126
~t #4
75--404-0126
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