01-20-1998 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO:Chair Lindquist and Orono Planning Commission Members Ron Moorse, City Administrator FROM: DATE: Liz Van Zomeren, City Planner/Zoning Administrator Januar>' 13,1998 RE:#2332, Zoning Code Amendment Re: Used Car Sales in the B-5, Limited Neighborhood Business District Background At the October 20,1997, Planning Commission Mr. Dick Bury of Classic Car Sales, Inc. requested that the Planning Commission recommend finding that the sale of classic cars would be similar to a museum or an antique store in the B-5 district. The request was made because Mr. Bury had an interest in purchasing the property located at 3850 Shoreline Drive (Bay Furniture). On a vote of 6-0. the Planning Commission recommended denial due to concern about outdoor display. At the November 10, 1997, City Council meeting, the Council voted to direct staff to draft a Zoning Code text amendment to consider car sales as a conditional use permit in the B-5 district. The application #2310 to find that the proposed use was tabled until January 26, 1998 on a vote of 5-0. Proposed Amendment The proposed zoning code amendment revises the B-5, Limited Neighborhood Business District, by adding used car sales as a conditional use, subject to specific standards. The standards include restricting car sales to classic and collectible car sales as the principal use. Sales of trade-in vehicles are recognized as a secondary use. A typical used car sales lot would not be allowed because it deals specifically in only used car sales and not classic or collectible vehicles. The amendment also limits the maximum lot size recognizing that the B-5 District is a neighborhood business district and the size and scale of the operation should be limited to maintain the neighborhood scale. The minimum building size is also restricted to 6,000 sq. ft. so that a used car lot cannot operate without having a showroom rather than just a small office on a lot. The amendment also includes a ratio between the lot size and building size so that an appropriate neighborhood scale is maintained. The building cannot consume the entire lot (warehouse-type operation) nor can the lot be entirely for parking of vehicles if a ratio of at least 15% is maintained. Further, the entire lot cannot be impeiA’ious surfaces. The proposed amendment does not specifically list the number of vehicles that may be displayed outside at one time. This was the most contentious issue when the Plannin.c* Commission and City ^B-5 Zoning Amendment RE Car Sales PC: 1/20.9S page-1