06.01 and 06.02 - Planning and Zoning Administrator's Report

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After reviewing the application,the Planning Commission is recommending that you approve the conditional use permit based off of the following findings of fact: 1. The property is located off of County Road 112. The access is existing and has been in use for many years. No new access is required. 2. Land uses adjacent to and across the street from the proposed business are either vacant, a public utility(the transformer) or agriculture. 3. The Agricultural zoning district allows low-impact business offices that are compatible with the surrounding land uses. 4. The proposed use does not conflict with the intent of the AG zoning district and the Comprehensive Plan. 5. The existing building does not contribute to waxer pollution nor is the site subject to erosion. There are no changes being proposed to the building. 6. The site has an existing sewage treatment system that is compliant and sized adequately for an office building. 7. The proposed use is not within the shoreland zone and is not visible from public water. The Planning Commission is also recommending the following conditions be included in a motion to approve: 1. There shall be no storage of hazardous materials or toxic wastes on the site, including within the building. 2. The site shall be kept clean and orderly,with no accumulation of debris or rubbish. There shall be no outside storage. 3. Approved rental of storage spaces does not constitute approval of additional businesses within the complex. The Planning Commission is also recommending that you authorize the City Staff, specifically the City Attorney, to proceed with legal action against Cathi McBryde. The Commission has been working with Ms. McBryde for many months on cleanup of debris at her property. This is an issue that has carried over from the former Sibley Township. After numerous letters, site visits, invitations to appear at meetings for discussion and missed deadlines, it has become evident that Ms. McBryde is not going to voluntarily clean up the property. The Commission feels there is a significant health and safety problem with the debris and that requires City action. They recommend that the City Attorney seek a court order using a process similar to the process currently being used in the Virgil Dahl case. The Planning Commission discussed ways to improve communication with the City Council and foster a greater understanding of planning issues and what the role and usefulness of the Planning Commission is. In that context, members of the Planning Commission would like to invite City Council members to attend upcoming Planning Commission meetings, which are held on the third Thursday of each month. Members indicated that they, in turn, intended to be present more frequently at City Council meetings to continue to build on the dialogue of the February 26 joint special meeting.