HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.b. TA to zoning ord. event centers in agEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Planning Commission Meeting Date: April 26, 2022
Tentative City Council Meeting Date: May 17, 2022
AGENDA ITEM: 22-24-TA Text Amendment to Zoning
Ordinance Modifying the Conditions for
Commercial Event Centers in the AG-
Agricultural Zoning District.
AGENDA SECTION:
Public Hearing
PREPARED BY: Julia Hogan, Planner AGENDA NO. 6.b.
ATTACHMENTS: None APPROVED BY: AK
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Motion to recommend the City Council approve the Text Amendment Modifying the
Conditions for Commercial Event Centers within the AG-Agricultural Zoning District.
SUMMARY
Staff was recently approached about having a commercial event center in the eastern rural part of the
community; where a principal structure and many out buildings currently exist. The property owner was
interested in having events such as private parties and potentially weddings on site. In 2017, the City Council
approved an addition to the ordinance that allowed commercial event centers as a conditional use in the
AG-Agricultural district. Along with that update to the ordinance, a conditional use permit was applied for at
the same time for a commercial event center in the Agricultural zoning district and was approved by the
Planning Commission and City Council.
When staff first presented the text amendment to add commercial event centers to the Agricultural district
as a conditional use sixteen conditions were proposed. During the Planning Commission meeting it was
discussed that there were concerns with the proximity of a commercial event center to residential uses,
which spurred the addition of a condition that limited the allowed area to east of Akron Avenue and south
of County Road 42. After the addition of two more conditions there was a total of nineteen conditions that
were approved.
An issue that arose in regard to the approved conditions associated with commercial event centers in the
Agricultural district has been the location of where they are allowed within the City. As stated in the above
paragraph commercial event centers are only allowed east of Akron Avenue and south of County Road 42.
The main idea with making this a condition was that there would be no interference with residential use.
What has been found is that there are properties north of County Road 42 that could be suitable for a
commercial event center and would not interfere with residential everyday use. That is why the City is
recommending modifying the condition from the site must be located east of Akron Ave and south of
County Road 42 to site must be located east of Blaine Avenue.
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BACKGROUND
Legal Authority. Text amendments are considered legislative actions. In such cases, the City has a lot of
discretion in its deliberations and application outcome.
TEXT AMENDMENT
In 2017, when staff first looked at adding commercial event centers to the AG-Agricultural district staff
reviewed conditions placed on similar facilities located in other communities around Minnesota and other
states. The conditions included with the proposed amendment were included to minimize impacts on
neighboring properties as well as to ensure the safety and welfare of guests. Due to the rising interest in
the adaptive reuse of barn structures as places to hold events and parties, staff felt that commercial event
centers would be appropriate uses within the AG-Agricultural zoning district so long as recommended
conditions were met. The City Council approved commercial event centers as a conditional use within the
Agricultural district with nineteen conditions of approval. By modifying the second condition of approval,
it allows for the opportunity for more properties to apply for a conditional use permit for commercial
event center within the AG-Agricultural zoning district.
Below is the staff recommended text amendment that modifies the second condition under commercial
event centers in the conditional use section of the 11-4-1: AG Agricultural District.
11-4-1: AG AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT:
D. Conditional Uses: The following uses are conditional uses in the AG district, and are subject to the
conditional use permit provisions outlined in this title:
AM radio antennas and supporting towers and related accessory structures. This use may be permitted
only on properties situated in that part of the city north and east of State Trunk Highway 55.
Cement or concrete production provided the site has an approved mineral extraction permit in
compliance with section 11-10-4, "Small Scale Mineral Extraction", of this title.
Commercial outdoor recreation.
Commercial event centers, subject to:
1. The parcel must be a minimum of five (5) acres in size.
2. Site must be located east of Akron Avenue and south of County Road 42. Site must be located east
of Blaine Avenue.
3. The property owner and venue operator must be the same individual(s) and the site shall be its
primary residence. The operator, or its designee, must be on the premises for the duration of each
event.
4. The maximum number of guests is two hundred (200). A larger number of guests may be
approved by the City based on the size of site, structures, parking availability, and other relevant
factors.
5. Outdoor seating areas, where liquor is available shall be located in a controlled or cordoned area
acceptable to the City with at least one (1) opening.
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6. Outdoor seating areas where food and/or liquor is available shall be set back twenty feet (20') from
property lines and have appropriate screening to adjacent properties.
7. The hours of operation shall be no later than ten o'clock (10:00) P.M. on Sunday through Thursday
and twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight on Friday and Saturday.
8. Off street parking shall be provided to accommodate one (1) stall per two (2) guests plus seven (7)
stalls. Class 5 gravel surfacing shall be allowed as long as the property is without access to public
sanitary sewer to the site. When public sanitary sewer service becomes available to the property,
the property owner shall surface the parking lot with a blacktop or concrete surface within one (1)
year. No vehicle parking is permitted within or along any public right-of-way.
9. Parking lot setbacks for gravel or surface lots shall be twenty feet (20') from the side and rear
property lines and fifty feet (50') from the front property line.
10. Parking lot shall be screened from neighboring parcels.
11. Lighting shall be provided as necessary for security, safety, and traffic circulation. The level of
lighting shall not exceed 0.5 lumen at any residential property line or 1.0 lumen at any
nonresidential property line.
12. A traffic circulation and safety plan, including but not limited to access and signage, shall be
reviewed and approved by the City Fire Marshal and Police Chief.
13. Compliance with all applicable regulations including State Health Code, State building codes, and
local liquor licensing requirements. The operator shall coordinate events and activities with
adjoining property owners to ensure appropriate Health and Safety Codes are met.
14. The serving of food and beverages is permitted only in conjunction with an event.
15. Overnight accommodations for guests, including campers, tents, or other recreation vehicles, are
prohibited.
16. Sanitary facilities adequate for the number of attendees shall be provided as determined by the
City. Portable toilets may be approved for temporary use and must be screened from view from
roads and neighboring properties by landscaping or a wooden enclosure. No portable toilets shall
be located closer than four hundred feet (400') from a neighboring residential structure.
17. Sound amplification systems cannot be used outdoors after ten o'clock (10:00) P.M.
18. Noise from an event shall not be plainly audible at a distance of fifty feet (50') or more from the
property line.
19. Trash enclosures must be provided and meet the standards for the C-4 General Commercial
Zoning District.
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommending approval of the text amendment to modify the second condition of approval for
commercial event centers in the AG-Agricultural district.