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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9A - Free-Standing Parking Lots CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: MARCH 15, 2004 9A JANE KANSIER, PLANNING COORDINATOR AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO THE PRIOR LAKE ZONING ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FREE-STANDING PARKING LOTS AS ACCESSORY USES IN RESIDENTIAL USE DISTRICTS (Case File #04-026) DISCUSSION: History: On December 15,2003, the Planning Commission and the City Council conducted a workshop to discuss several potential amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. At that time, the Council and the Planning Commission directed staff to prepare an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance allowing free-standing parking lots in Residential Use Districts. During this discussion, the Council and Planning Commission also directed staff to include the following prOVISIons: . Prohibit storage . Protect the neighborhood . Require a Conditional Use Permit . Specify the distance from the use the parking lot is intended to serve . Prohibit structures Current Circumstances: This amendment would address a minimum of two situations the City is possibly aware of. The first is Captain Jack's restaurant. There is a vacant parcel of land across the street from the restaurant owned by one of the partners. They may wish to utilize this lot for overflow parking for the restaurant and the marina. The second area is the DNR lake access on De Witt Avenue. The DNR owns a second parcel and would like to expand the parking available for the access. The City Council previously directed the staff to research additional parking for persons wishing to use the lake. Section 1107.203 (9) of the Zoning Ordinance currently reads as follows: 1:\04 files\04 ordin amend\04 zoning\parking lots\cc reoortnqoc . I k WWW.cILyorpnorae.com Page 1 Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 (9) Location of Parking Facilities. Required off-street parking in the R-l, R-2 and R-3 Use Districts shall be on the same lot as the building housing the principal use, except in the cases of' ~ A religious institution where parking is regulated by subsection 1107.303. ~ Condominium developments where off-street parking is designed on a lot or within a garage on a separate parcel but within the same condominium development. The proposed amendment adds a third bullet point to this section, which reads as follows: )> Free-standing parking lots accessory to existing nonresidential and recreational uses, located within the same Zoning Use District, and located within 500 feet of the existing use, may be permitted in the R-l, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Use Districts, subiect to approval of a Conditional Use Permit. Such parking lots must meet all the provisions listed in Section 1107.203 (11), 1107.203 (13 ) below, and all of Section 1107.204. Sections 1107.203 (11 and 13) outline provisions for the control of off- site parking sites and the use of off-street parking lots. Section 1107.204 outlines provisions for the design and maintenance of off- street parking areas. This section will regulate setbacks, lighting, landscaping, buffers and so on. The proposed amendment also adds a new use category under the Uses Permitted by Conditional Use Permit in the R-l, R-2, R-3 and R-4 districts. This section states: Free-Standing Parking Lots. Conditions: 1. The parking lot must be accessory to an existing nonresidential or recreational use located within the same Zoning Use District. 2. The parking lot must be located within 500 feet of the existing nonresidential or recreational use. 3. The parking lot must meet all the provisions listed in Section 1107.203 (11 ), 1107.203 (13 ) below, and all of Section 1107.204. 4. No storage of any kind is permitted on the site. 5. No structures are permitted on the site. The Planning Commission discussed this amendment at a public hearing on February 23, 2004. There was one resident at the hearing to speak in opposition to the proposed amendment. This resident was 1:\04 files\04 ordin amend\04 zoning\parking lots\cc report. doc Page 2 concerned the amendment would allow the expansion of nonconfonning commercial uses in residential areas. A copy of the Planning Commission minutes is attached to this report. The Planning Commission agreed with the ordinance, and included the conditions prohibiting storage and structures on the site. The Commission also specified the parking lot and the use it is intended to serve must be located within the same Use District. The Commission found this amendment, with the changes, would be in the public interest, specifically since it would help to reduce parking on the public streets. The Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval. The Issues: The City Council must make a decision whether to amend the Zoning Ordinance based on the following criteria: 1. There is a public need for the amendment. There is a public need for the amendment. It allows the creation of off-street parking in residential areas under very specific and narrow conditions. This amendment can help to alleviate on-street parking, and the problems associated with on-street parking, such as traffic congestion and safety. At the same time, the specific provisions pertaining to the parking lot will protect the surrounding residential neighborhood from potential adverse impacts. 2. The amendment will accomplish one or more of the purposes of this Ordinance, the Comprehensive Plan, or other adopted plans or policies of the City. Objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan include: . Determine and strive for a balance of commerce, industry and population; . Encourage a diversified economic base and a broad range of employment opportunities; . Promote sound land use; and . Maintain high standards in the promotion and development of commerce and industry. The proposed amendment strives to accomplish the objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan by providing parking opportunities for existing business, while still protecting the adjacent residential neighborhoods. 3. The adoption of the amendment is consistent with State and/or Federal requirements. This amendment is consistent with federal and state laws. 1:\04 files\04 ordin amend\04 zoning\parking lots\cc report.doc Page 3 ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDED MOTION: REVIEWED BY: Parking lots authorized under this amendment are subject to all applicable setbacks. These setbacks, while providing protection to adjacent lots, reduce the number of parking stalls that may be constructed. Conclusion: Both the Planning Commission and the staff recommend approval of this amendment. The City Council has three alternatives: 1. Adopt an Ordinance approving the proposed amendment as recommended. 2. Deny the proposed Ordinance. 3. Defer this item and provide staff with specific direction. ernative # 1. A motion and second to adopt ing the amendment as recommended by the 1:\04 files\04 ordin amend\04 zoning\parking lots\cc report.doc Page 4 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 CITY OF PRIOR LAKE ORDINANCE NO. 04- XX AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 1102.403, 1102.503, 1102.603, 1102.703 AND 1107.203 OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE The City Council of the City of Prior Lake does hereby ordain that: 1. Section 1102.403 of the Prior Lake City Code is hereby amended to add the following Section: (5) Free-Standing Parking Lots. Conditions: a. The parking lot must be accessory to an existing nonresidential or recreational use located within the same Zoning Use District. b. The parking lot must be located within 500 feet of the existing nonresidential or recreational use. c. The parking lot must meet all the provisions listed in Section 1107.203 (11 ), 1107.203 (13) below, and all of Section 1107.204. d. No storage of any kind is permitted on the site. e. No structures are permitted on the site. 2. Section 1102.503 of the Prior Lake City Code is hereby amended to add the following Section: (6) Free-Standing Parking Lots. Conditions: a. The parking lot must be accessory to an eXIstIng nonresidential or recreational use located within the same Zoning Use District. b. The parking lot must be located within 500 feet of the existing nonresidential or recreational use. c. The parking lot must meet all the provisions listed in Section 1107.203 (11 ), 1107.203 (13) below, and all of Section 1107.204. d. No storage of any kind is permitted on the site. e. No structures are permitted on the site. 3. Section 1102.603 of the Prior Lake City Code is hereby amended to add the following Section: (4) Free-Standing Parking Lots. Conditions: a. The parking lot must be accessory to an existing nonresidential or recreational use located within the same Zoning Use District. 1:\04 files\04 ordin amend\04 zoning\parking lots\ord04xx.doc www.cityofpriorlake.com PAGE 1 Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 b. The parking lot must be located within 500 feet of the existing nonresidential or recreational use. c. The parking lot must meet all the provisions listed in Section 1107.203 (11 ), 1107.203 (13) below, and all of Section 1107.204. d. No storage of any kind is permitted on the site. e. No structures are permitted on the site. 4. Section 1102.703 of the Prior Lake City Code is hereby amended to add the following Section: (5) Free-Standing Parking Lots. Conditions: a. The parking lot must be accessory to an existing nonresidential or recreational use located within the same Zoning Use District. b. The parking lot must be located within 500 feet of the existing nonresidential or recreational use. c. The parking lot must meet all the provisions listed in Section 1107.203 (11), 1107.203 (13) below, and all of Section 1107.204. d. No storage of any kind is permitted on the site. e. No structures are permitted on the site. 5. Section 1107.203 of the Prior Lake City Code is hereby amended as follows: (9) Location of Parking Facilities. Required off-street parking in the R-l, R-2 and R-3 Use Districts shall be on the same lot as the building housing the principal use, except in the cases of: ~ A religious institution where parking is regulated by subsection 1107.303. ~ Condominium developments where off-street parking is designed on a lot or within a garage on a separate parcel but within the same condominium development. ~ Free-standing parking lots accessory to existing nonresidential and recreational uses, located within the same Zoning Use District, and located within 500 feet of the existing use, may be permitted in the R-l, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Use Districts, subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit. Such parking lots must meet all the provisions listed in Section 1107.203 (11), 1107.203 (13) below, and all of Section 1107.204. This ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage and publication. Passed by the City Council of the City of Prior Lake this 15th day of March, 2004. ATTEST: City Manager Mayor 1:\04 files\04 ordin amend\04 zoning\parking lots\ord04xx.doc PAGE 2 Published in the Prior Lake American on the 20th day of March, 2004. Drafted By: City of Prior Lake Planning Department 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue Prior Lake, MN 55372 1:\04 files\04 ordin amend\04 zoning\parking lots\ord04xx.doc PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23,2004 1. Call to Order: Chairman Stamson called the February 23,2004, Planning Commission meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. Those present were Commissioners Atwood, Lemke, Perez, Ringstad and Stamson, Planning Coordinator Jane Kansier, Planner Cynthia Kirchoff and Recording Secretary Connie Carlson. 2. Roll Call: Atwood Lemke Perez Ringstad Stamson Present Present Present Present Present 3. Approval of Minutes: The Minutes from the February 9,2004, Planning Commission meeting were approved as presented. 4. Consent: None 5. Public Hearings: Commissioner Stamson read the Public Hearing Statement and opened the meeting. * A. Case #04-26 An amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to allow free-standing parking lots as accessory uses to existing nonresidential uses in Residential Districts, subject to approval of a conditional use permit. Planning Coordinator Jane Kansier presented the Planning Report dated February 23, 2004, on file in the office of the City Planning Department. On December 15,2003, the Planning Commission and City Council conducted a workshop to discuss several potential amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. At that time, the Council and the Planning Commission directed staff to prepare an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance allowing free-standing parking lots in Residential Use Districts. During this discussion, the Council and Planning Commission also directed staff to include the following provisions: . Prohibit storage . Protect the neighborhood . Require a Conditional Use Permit . Specify the distance from the use the parking lot is intended to serve L:\04 FILES\04 PLAN COMMIS\04pc Minutes\MN022304.doc 1 ...,."._,.._.,...,_..______.~...._~.<.""i."..,..,"',.,.,_;......~^'.__.._.,.~,._~~..,.f..~_........_"_..__"",<.,_._""'I4O.~_.._"..,....I..,.~..._,..~'"'''''__''_............_''_..,..._''''_,.,............._'''',.".,.,..~".''....~.N.;.__~""""..,'..,,~....-'....,.-""----..., Planning Commission Meeting February 23.2004 . Prohibit structures There are two current situations driving this amendment. The first is Captain Jack's restaurant. There is a vacant parcel of land across the street from the restaurant owned by one of the partners. They may wish to utilize this lot for overflow parking for the restaurant and the marina. The second area is the DNR lake access on De Witt Avenue. The DNR owns a second parcel and would like to expand the parking available for the access. The purpose of this amendment is to allow free-standing parking lots within Residential Districts under specific circumstances. The specific conditions applied to these parking lots are intended to limit the application of the provision and protect the surrounding residential area. By requiring a conditional use permit, the amendment also allows public input on a specific proposal. The proposed amendment is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan and the enabling legislation set forth in Minnesota statutes. Based upon the findings the staff recommended approval. Stamson questioned if a Conditional Use Permit can be revoked. Kansier said "Yes, there are standards set out in the ordinance as to what would qualify for revoking a permit." One is not meeting the conditions of the permit. If one does not utilize the permit within a certain amount of time it will automatically expire. There are criteria and a process laid out. Ringstad requested abstaining from the conversation and voting. Comments from the Public: Bill Criego, 16350 Park Avenue, agreed with the DNR access parking use, which is a valid public use. However, he felt Captain Jack's is a private profit oriented business that is a non-conforming use and grandfathered in about 30 years ago. By allowing this ordinance to go through, the City is allowing anybody who is non-residential to apply for a Conditional Use Permit. Criego stated Captain Jack's was a grandfathered-in-type facility. By allowing this ordinance to go through, the City will be allowing a grandfathered facility to expand. The criteria for the CUP is basically not for a residence. If the applicant meets the criteria will it automatically be granted? Or does the Commission have the ability to allow or disallow at your will? Captain Jack's has a parking problem. Do you want to expand it? Not an easy decision. Most of the approved uses are during the day or early evening. By allowing this, parking will be allowed until 1 :00 am. Criego's other concern is the allowable impervious surface on a parking lot in the Rl district. Would that be allowed to take place in an Rl District? The ordinance should not be used for non-conforming uses; grandfather approaches or to expand a nonconforming use and consider the hours of operation. L:\04 FILES\04 PLAN COMMIS\04 pc Minutes\MN022304.doc 2 Planning Commission Meeting February 23, 2004 The public hearing was closed. Comments from the Commissioners: Atwood: · Valid concern on imperious surface issue. Kansier responded the maximum is 30%. In commercial, industrial districts and park and recreational uses the impervious surface can go up to 75% with required storm water treatment. Ifit's in a residential district alone it is 30%. · Isn't that something that needs to be addressed? Kansier responded the DNR would fall into the park and recreational use requirement. The other use would have to apply for a variance. · Because this is not specific to Captain Jack's were any of the neighbor's notified? Kansier responded "No, because it is a general text amendment and not specific to Captain Jack's". . Always hesitant to vote in favor of amendments specifically driven. However, there is a public need for parking in both of these instances. . A Conditional Use Permit would give the perimeters implied by staff. · It would be interesting to hear the neighbors. Don't know if anything is valid but it is significant. Stamson: . Unless there was a specific application the neighbors would not be notified. Atwood: . There is a public need - support the amendment. Lemke: . Atwood addressed many of my thoughts. There are problems in neighborhoods on many days especially with the DNR parking lot. It is useful and necessary. There is a public need. . Criego brought up the impervious surface which is a very important point. However, under the CUP process it would be better to look at for each individual case. . As far as an expansion of a nonconforming use - not totally convinced it is an issue. The building is not expanding. The additional parking would address that problem. . Would like to listen to the Commissioners. Perez: . Echo Lemke's thoughts on the expansion. It will allow more parking and find a place to park that is not on the street. There is a safety issue and the biggest concern. . It's not an expansion - its additional parking. . The impervious surface is a valid point. L:\04 FILES\04 PLAN COMMIS\04 pc Minutes\MN022304.doc 3 Planning Commission Meeting February 23,2004 . Like the fact it is driven by a CUP. The neighbors would have a say if application driven. . No reason to hold up the ordinance - there is a public need. . The DNR access parking is important and needed. Based on that and the fact there is a CUP attached to this I am in favor of the amendment. Stamson: . Are the Wagon Bridge Marina and Grainwood Park in the Rl District? Kansier said "yes". . Both have parking problems. . Agreed with Commissioners. There is definitely a public need especially the DNR. . There has been some discussion of expanding Captain Jacks - the building will not be added on to. The parking lot being added is to address the current use and problem as opposed to expanding. The additional parking will help the situation. . This will solve the problem not create a new one. . Criego' s concern for the late night parking impact is not any different than what we allow most things - churches, schools that are open during the day is a valid one. . Growing up on Lake Minnetonka knowing the lake, this is a common situation. We often discuss the lake is unique; you have to live with people's storage in the back yard - boats, boat structures, etc. . Living on the lake has different neighborhood situations. . Would like to see additional conditions - specifically no storage of any kind on the property. An example would be that Captain Jack's rents slips and no storing boats there over the winter because they are not using the parking space. I hate to say "no parking over night" because someone drinking may leave their car. Nothing more than 48 hours. . No structures of any kind on the additional parking lot. . The primary use must be the same for residential district uses. It has to be specified that the use is in the same residential district. That's what creates the hardship for that particular property. . Add the three conditions and will support. . This will not create any new problems. The public need is addressed. General Discussion: . The points brought up are valid - storage, keep the distance within 500 feet. . Downtown might be justified but not through this process. MOTION BY PEREZ, SECOND BY LEMKE, RECOMMENDING APPROV AL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF WITH THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS: . NO STORAGE OF ANY KIND ON THE PROPERTY. L:\04 FILES\04 PLAN COMMIS\04 pc Minutes\MN022304.doc 4 Planning Commission Meeting February 23.2004 . NO STRUCTURES OF ANY KIND ON THE PROPERTY. . THE SPECIFIED USE MUST BE WITHIN THE DISTRICT. V ote taken indicated ayes by all with Commissioner Ringstad abstaining. MOTION CARRIED. This item will go before the City Council on March 15,2003. B. C e #04-21 An amendment to Section 1107.2200 of he Zoning Ordinance to add ma rials to architectural materials standards. thia Kirchoff presented the Planning Rep dated February 23,2004, on f the City Planning Department. On December 15,2 3, the City Council and Plannin ommission held a joint workshop to discuss p tential zoning ordinance ame ments, including an amendment allowing additional mat . als to be considered Clas materials. The Planning Commission . scussed potential ch nges at their regular meeting on February 9,2004. The Co 'ssion supported ending the ordinance to add fiber cement siding as a Class la mat . ai, allow s etic stucco as a Class I material, require a higher grade of vinyl siding, an increase t number of attached residential units that must comply with the more strict m terial s ndards. The proposed amendment allows fiber ent siding as a Class la material, considers synthetic stucco a Class I material, spec' s vinyl siding grade, and increases the number of units in one residential building that u adhere to the stricter material standards. Based upon the findings set forth in t s repo , staff recommended approval. Comments from the Public: Kelly Murray, ofWensmann Ho es, said they aske taffto look at this issue. She asked how the 60% calculated. urray presented a bu ding plan indicating the calculation area and is trying t figure the calculation are . Kansier said staff calculates the surface of the front of th uilding. Staff does not go t ee dimensional nor are the roof areas included as the fr nt. Murray disagreed on the ca ulations and said there is a big difference for them. Kansier explained the c culation includes the face of the buildin d garage doors, although they are not ass I. The windows are included as Class I ut shutters are considered decorativ Under the proposed ordinance staff would not 'nclude the shakes and garage doors. Murray felt the d ails actually helps the building but hurts the calculation. urray said she was struggli g that only 30% of the 60% requirement can be Hardy Boar in the residential dist . ct. Her concern was with their 10-unit buildings. L:\04 FILES\04 PLAN COMMIS\04 pc Minutes\MN022304.doc 5