5.1. SR 11-24-1997~,ty of
ver
MEMORANDUM
Item # 5.1.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
Steve Ach, City Planner
November 24, 1997
Request by Jerry Smith for Rezoning
from C-2 to C-2, Public Hearing Case
No. ZC 97-7
Request
Consider a request by Jerry Smith to rezone property from C-2 (Office
District), to C-1 (Central Commercial).
Overview
The rezoning from C-2 to C-1 involves property located at the southwest
corner of Main Street and Lowell Avenue. The property has a dimension of
50 feet of frontage on Main Street and 165 feet of depth along Lowell Avenue.
Directly to the south of the property is a residential home which is owned by
Mr. Donais who spoke at the City Council meeting. On Wednesday of last
week, I had a chance to meet Jerry and Tim Smith, along with Ralph Donais
at the property to discuss the resident's concern with the use of the property
as commercial.
The elevation change between the residential and commercial property is
close to 8 to 10 feet and is terraced down from the commercial property to the
residential. There is currently a row of lilac bushes planted on the first tier
which have grown up to a height of 3-4 feet above the parking lot, which
probably provides an effective screen blocking vehicle headlights during the
summertime. However, during the fall and winter months when the foliage
has fallen off, the screening is non existent.
Given the elevation change between the two properties, it appears the best
way to accomplish any type of screening of the vehicle headlights onto the
residential area would have to take place on the top of the hill adjacent to the
parking area. It should be noted that the parking area that serves the
subject property is also a joint parking area with the property immediately to
the west which is a single family home converted to a law office. Therefore,
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/ZC 97-8
November 24, 1997
Page 2
any treatment that is done on this property in conjunction with the rezoning
would not occur on the adjacent property where there would still be the direct
impact of vehicles lights onto the residential area. The best way to address
this issue would be to extend whatever buffering is necessary along the entire
portion of the parking lot.
Possible Land Uses
Attached is a copy of sections of the zoning ordinance pertaining to the uses
allowed in the C1 and C2 zoning districts. Permitted uses (those not reviewed
by the City Council) allowed in the C1 that are not allowed in the C2 include
retail stores and shops, hotels, Class I restaurants (sit-down), and sale of
firearms. All of the other uses listed in the C1 district would require
Planning Commission and City Council review prior to occupying the site.
Recommendation
Based on the grade change between the residential and commercial area, any
type of buffer developed between these two land uses should probably occur
at the top of the hill adjacent to the parking lot. Providing additional
plantings within the terraced transition between the two uses would
probably not be effective in deflecting the headlights from the vehicles from
the parking lot. At the meeting Wednesday between the neighbors and Mr.
Smith, there was no confirmed solution to the matter other than raising
several issues that the resident would like addressed. I think the most
legitimate issue which should be addressed has to do with the vehicle lights
shining from the commercial area onto the residential. Again, this should be
in the form of some opaque structure or wall at the top of the hill and
extended along the entire length of the parking area to block the headlights
on a year-round basis.
s:\council\zc97-8.doc
ORDINANCE 97-
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
CITY OF ELK RIVER ZONING MAP TO REZONE CERTAIN
PROPERTY FROM C2 (OFFICE DISTRICT) TO
C1 (CENTRAL COMMERCIAL)
CASE NO. ZC 97-7
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:
THE REZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAND
DESIGNATION OF CB (CENTRAL BUSINESS).
THE REZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ADJACENT LAND USE DESIGNATION
AND ZONING DISTRICTS ON THE NORTH, EAST AND WEST.
THE PROPOSED REZONING IS A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING C1
ZONING DISTRICT TO THE EAST.
THE TIMES AND CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED IN THAT THE PROPERTY HAS
BEEN FOR SALE FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND INTERESTED PARTIES HAVE INCLUDED
USES THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THE C1 DISTRICT, BUT NOT IN THE C2 DISTRICT.
Section 3. That 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
/zc96-14
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t3065 Orono P=kway · P.O. Box -190
Elk River. MN 55~!0
178TH
CASE' zC q7-7
v. Model homes in compliance with Section 900.20,
Subsection 13.
vi. Licensed daycare facilities for 16 or fewer
children
vii. Public parks, playgrounds and open space
B. Accessor~Uses
i. Public shelters and essential services
ii. Garages and sheds
iii. Private recreational facilities
C. Conditional Uses
i. Outpatient health care facilities
ii. Boarding houses
iii. Institutional uses
iv. Licensed daycare facilities for 17 or more
children
v. Governmental buildings and facilities
vi. Mini Storage
vii. Zero lot line development
10. C-1 - Central Business District
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The Central Business District (CBD) is
appropriate for retail, service, and commercial uses to serve the
shopping and service needs of the residents and surrounding
community as distinguished from highway service uses. The CBD is
intended to encourage uses and designs that are consistent with
the historic character of the CBD. Emphasis should be placed on
pedestrian access and design standards with flexibility to
preserve the historic character of the CBD. Uses should be
designed to eliminate any nuisance or incompatibility with
surrounding uses.
A. Permitted Uses
i. Governmental, business and professional offices
ii. Financial institutions
iii. Retail stores and shops
9.28
Be
Co
iv.
vi. Hotels
vii. Restaurants,
viii. Public parks
ix. Sale of firearms
Accessor~Uses
Personal service Establishments
Outpatient health care facilities
(Class I)
i. Signs as permitted in Section 900.22
ii. Off-street parking facilities
iii. Off-street loading facilities
iv. Telephone booths
v. Private recreational facilities
vi. Public shelters and essential services
Conditional Uses
i. Nonprofit clubs, lodges or halls
ii. Licensed daycare facilities
iii. Institutional uses
iv. Motor vehicle service stations
v. Commercial parking lots and ramps
vi. Residential dwellings (R-4 standards)
vii. On-Sale liquor establishments
viii.Commercial recreational facilities
ix. Convenience store
x. Funeral parlor
xi. Restaurants, (Class II)
xii. Governmental buildings and facilities
xiii.Apartments subordinate to the principal use
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xiv. Produce Markets
xv. Therapeutic massage and sauna establishments
11. C-2 - Office District
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The C-2 Office District is intended to
buffer residential districts from arterial streets or from
commercial districts and to provide a district which is
compatible with and may reasonably adjoin residential districts.
The Office District provides for the location and development of
offices and other service and light commercial uses which are
subject to more restrictive controls.
A. Permitted Uses
i. Governmental, business and professional offices
ii. Outpatient health care facilities
iii. Personal service establishments
iv. Public parks
B. Accessor~ Uses
i. Signs as permitted in Section 900.22
ii. Off-street parking facilities
iii. Off-street loading facilities
iv. Telephone booths
v. Private recreational facilities
vi. Public shelters and essential services
C. Conditional Uses
i. Licensed daycare facilities
ii. Institutional uses
iii. Residential dwellings (R-4 standards)
iv. Financial institutions
v. Funeral parlor
vi. Boarding house
vii. Governmental buildings and facilities
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viii. Therapeutic massage and sauna establishments
12. C-3 - Hi~hwa~ Commercial District
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of the C-3 highway commercial
district is to recognize the need for commercial establishments
on or serving with immediate access to major highways. Permitted
land uses should take advantage of the highway access in a manner
which other business districts are not afforded. In addition to
retail and commercial uses, quasi-industrial and wholesale
enterprises that do not meet an industrial setting and have
considerable customer contact are acceptable in the highway
commercial district.
A. Permitted Uses
i. Governmental, business and professional offices
ii. Retail shops and stores
iii. Personal service establishments
iv. Nurseries, produce markets, and garden centers
which may include outdoor display
v. Convenience stores
vi. Public parks
vii. Financial Institutions
viii. Sale of firearms
B. Accessor~ Uses
i. Signs as are permitted in Section 900.22
ii. Off-street parking facilities
iii. Off-street loading facilities
iv. Telephone booths
v. Private recreational facilities
vi. Public shelters and essential services
C. Conditional Uses
i. Enclosed light manufacturing with related retail
sales
ii. Car, RV and marine sales
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