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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.b. Exec Sum Canada CircleEXECUTIVE SUMMARY Port Authority Meeting Date: September 20, 2016 AGENDA SECTION: AGENDA ITEM: Canada Circle Property New Business PREPARED BY: Kim Lindquist, Deputy Director AGENDA NO.: 4.b. ATTACHMENTS: Maps, C-3 Zoning Standards APPROVED BY: ddj RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion Item ISSUE Staff was approached recently by the owner of the Polfus property (three lots) regarding potentially selling the site to the City. The property owner does not operate the business but leases the space to the implement operator. The owner was aware the City had land in the community, along Hwy 3. He is interested in relocating his used car dealership business from Farmington. The property along Hwy 3 is the Canada Circle site, which is owned jointly by the City and Port Authority. Staff is bringing this item to the Port Authority for discussion and direction. Staff had spoken to the property owner, Mr. Finnegan, several years ago, when trying to implement portions of the Downtown Framework. Both the BP station owner and Mr. Finnegan were approached about city acquisition of their parcels. At that time the BP owner was not interested. The owner has since sold the property to the business operator on the site. Mr. Finnegan owned the Polfus site and at that time indicated he would consider selling if we could allow a car dealership in the Downtown. Staff indicated that the Downtown was not designated for auto-related uses and therefore could not support a car dealership. The current idea is similar to those early discussions with the caveat that the car dealership site would be on the Canada Circle property, not Downtown. Staff is bringing this item to the Port Authority to see if the concept could be supported prior to Mr. Finnegan spending resources developing plans and investigating site development options. Staff believes the idea of introducing a commercial use on Canada Circle, one with outside storage is consistent with the initial intent of the site acquisition. The difference is that the site initially was obtained for relocation of businesses in the Downtown that might have outside storage and/or auto related uses. The appeal from perspective is the ability to obtain the Polfus site. Staff has indicated that any acquisition arrangement would have to include the City gaining ownership of the Polfus property. The approximate size of the Canada Circle site is 4.09 acres and the Polfus site is .7 acres. The valuation, based upon county records is approximately $120,000 for the city parcel and $311,130 for the Polfus site. The primary difference is the building valuation on the Polfus site, whereas there are no structures on the Canada Circle property. Presently the Canada Circle site is zoned Business Park and guided in the Comprehensive Plan for Regional Commercial. The conditions necessary for approval of motor vehicle sales on the site are attached. Staff notes that one of the conditions is that the building must be 20% of the land area. The current proposal of a 12,000 sq. ft. building would be significantly less than the required size. Mr. Finnegan has indicated that they currently operate a used car lot in Farmington and have outgrown the site. The space is leased and it was indicated that the building and site should not be considered indicative of what they would develop on the Rosemount property. It was indicated that they would plan to meet ordinance standards. The building would be approximately 12,000 square feet and would contain an office/customer area with the majority of the building used for automobile repairs. While the owner does not at this time repair vehicles for the public, they do need repair areas for cars sold with warrantees and for repairs to cars prior to sale. However, they would like the opportunity to conduct car repair unrelated to the car sales at this site. Staff had requested the Finnegans provide a narrative so that the Port Authority could understand what they are proposing for the site, and how the business would operate. The following information was given: Thank you for meeting with me today. As we discussed regarding the property off of Canada circle. The Finnegan family would be interested in constructing a new building on the property for the purposes of an auto dealership. Our dealership has been in business since 1976 and is currently located at 212 Elm St Farmington, MN 55024. Our business is that of a typical auto dealership consisting of retail auto sales, auto detailing and mechanical operations. Our typical range of inventory is between $10,000- $40,000 per vehicle. As a helpful reference point our website is dakotamotor.com. We are in A+ plus standings with the better business bureau and exemplify those same value of standards in our local community and customers. As discussed we were purposing to erect a 12,000 sf building along with a paved parking lot to house approximately 150 automobiles. In our current location we struggle with many different factors that we would like to remedy. Our lot is currently divided down two city blocks and divided into five different lots making logistics difficult. Our second issue is we are currently renting and would like to make vast improvements. We have ran the numbers and find it to be more fiscally responsible to invest in our own property and build a building suited directly for our needs and growth for the future. I appreciate your help and consideration with the matter. If you have any additional questions feel free to contact me directly. My cell phone is 651-206-2234. CONCLUSION At this time, staff is bringing this item forward to assess the level of interest in introducing a used car dealership at the Canada Circle property. If the Port Authority would consider that use, staff would work with the business owner to address ordinance conditions and also discuss obtaining the Polfus site which will assist in implementation of the adopted Downtown Framework. 2 Current Site September 14, 20161:600 02550100ft 051020m Property Information Disclaimer: Map and parcel data are believed to be accurate, but accuracy is not guaranteed. This is not a legal document and should not be substituted for a title search,appraisal, survey, or for zoning verification. Proposed Site September 14, 20161:2,400 0112.5225450ft 03060120m Property Information Disclaimer: Map and parcel data are believed to be accurate, but accuracy is not guaranteed. This is not a legal document and should not be substituted for a title search,appraisal, survey, or for zoning verification. 0 - CANADA CIRCLE wSB Project No.01556-79 August 15, 2006 701 Xenia Avenue South, suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 AREA w B www.wsbeng.com EXISTING CONDITIONS Figure Number & Assoc . - 763 -5414600 -Fax 76&541-1700 V RO SEMOUNT 2 MINNESOTA INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING PLANNING CONSTRUCTION _J K:\01556-79\Cad\Exhibits\FIG_02.dwg, 8/10/2006 2:21:14 PM O "� CONDITIONAL USE IN THE C-3 ZONING DISTRICT Motor and recreation vehicle, trailer, boat, or agricultural machinery sales or rental. 1. The site and building(s) shall be designed to limit the effects of the sales or rental use on adjacent properties. No sales or display area shall be located on a site abutting any residential use or district. 2. A minimum building floor area of twenty percent (20%) of the lot area shall be required. All overhead vehicle doors on the building shall remain closed except when a vehicle is entering or exiting the building. 3. The outdoor sales or display area shall not interfere with circulation in any required parking, loading, maneuvering or pedestrian area. 4. The maximum area permitted for outdoor sales or display shall not exceed three and one-half (3.5) square feet of outdoor storage area to each one square foot of enclosed ground floor principal building area. 5. The outdoor sales or display area shall conform to the principal building setback requirements of this district and meet the off street parking and loading performance standards outlined in chapter 6 of this title. 6. Junk vehicles are prohibited. 7. Any repair, assembly, disassembly or maintenance of vehicles shall require an additional conditional use permit subject to the performance standards outlined in this subsection for automotive repair. 8. Outdoor storage of parts, materials, and equipment is prohibited. 9. Landscaping and berming shall be a primary source for screening outdoor sales and display area from adjacent rights of way. Should landscaping and berming be found ineffective by the city, the city may approve screening walls and/or decorative fencing as an alternative. Screening walls shall be constructed of the same materials as the principal building and shall not extend more than twenty five feet (25') without a change in architecture to reduce their mass and appearance. The screening source (landscaping and berming or walls and/or decorative fencing) shall provide a minimum fifty percent (50%) opacity screen to a height of at least four feet (4'). 10. All necessary city or state licenses/permits shall be obtained and remain in good standing. 11. All exterior lighting shall conform to the C-3 district standards and applicable sections of this title. 12. No public address system shall be audible from a noncommercial or nonindustrial use or district. Playing of music or advertisements from the public address system is prohibited. 13. Tents, rooftop parking, ramps or similar vertical devices for elevated displays are prohibited. 14. Signs shall conform to the performance standards outlined in this title as well as the standards listed below: a. Pennants, balloons, streamers, pinwheels or other attention attracting devices are prohibited. b. No freestanding light poles shall be uses as temporary sign supports, as flagpoles or to connect flags, streamers, or pennants. c. No graphics shall be painted on the building or windows. d. Open hoods of vehicles, windshields, car windows, trunks, roofs or the like shall not be used for individual letters or other signage. e. No vehicle or trailer shall be parked in such a manner as to advertise the site location, or to promote or advertise a sale or event.