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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />Department Approval: Administrator Approval: <br />Name: Michael P. Gaffron'^^^*^^* <br />Title: Senior Planning Cooidinator <br />COUNCIL MEETING <br />APR 2 6 1999 <br />Cl I Y Ut- OhUNU <br />Date: April 22,1999 <br />Item No./y <br />Agenda Section: <br />Zoning <br />Item Description: Amend Section 9.34 - Allow Above-Ground Fuel Tanks in B-2 District <br />List of Exhibits <br />A - Draft Ordinance for Discussion <br />B - Memo and E,\hibits of April 7, 1999 <br />At the April 12 meeting Councilmembers indicated general support for the use of above-ground fuel <br />storage tanks in the B-2 Lakeshore Business District. An ordinance to amend Section 9.34 to simply <br />allow above-ground tanks in the B-2 zone, is attached for Council consideration. This is not a <br />zoning matter, and therefore does not require a public hearing. Passage requires a majority vote (3/5) <br />of the Council. <br />Staff has not had an opportunity to review the ramifications of this revision as it relates to Orono's <br />5 marinas. It certainly provides them an alternative to underground tanks. However, it also likely <br />will result in requests for hardcover variances as well as property line and lakeshore setback <br />variances. Above-ground tanks also can have a visual impact as well as an impact on traffic flow <br />and other activities occurring within a site. Proper location is critical to minimize these impacts. <br />The Minnesota Uniform Fire Code (MUFC) provides strict regulations for the location, design and <br />use of fuel dispensing systems, including above-ground tanks, in Minnesota. Orono Municipal <br />Code Section 9.34, "Fire Protection and Prevention", adopts the MUFC and incorporates certain City <br />amendments to it. It would be helpful to staff to have the Fire Marshal review the current City <br />ordinances to determine whether it may be appropriate to further amend and update Section 9.34. <br />As of this writing staff has had only minimal contact with the two marinas currently contemplating <br />installation of above-ground tanks. Neither has submitted a variance application w'hich is likely to <br />be needed in both cases due to hardcover and setback considerations. Additionally, an above ground <br />tank may result in marina owners having to make hard choices regarding site usage, especially where <br />parking stalls are sacrificed, or where the ability to store and dispense fuel may lead to an e.xpanded <br />marina operation on a severely limited site.