HomeMy WebLinkAboutRe: request for council action REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Date: January 23, 1998
Item No.:
Department Approval: Administrator Approval: Agenda Section:
/� Zoning
Name: Michael P.Gaffron �
Title: Senior Planning Coo inator �� �
Item Description: Gary DeSantis, Sailor's World - 1 Shoreline Drive - Request for
Discussion re: Business Plan and re: 10 Slip Reduction by LMCD
Attachments
A- Letter of Request
B - 1998 Marina License Application
C - Resolutions Potentially Pertinent to Discussion:
#2193 - Original approval for boat sales at gas station site - June 1987
#2194 - Original approval for marina redevelopment- June 1987
#3478 -Relocate storage.module - October 1994
#3582 -Boat club CUP -July 1995
D - LMCD letter re: 10 slips- 6/18/97
Background �
Mr. DeSantis has requested that Council provide a letter of support for his position regarding the
potential loss of 10 e�sting boat slips by LMCD action. His concern is that loss of these slips will
have a significant financial impact on his operation,necessitating a change in his business plan that
would require additional land-based activity.
In 1987 the City granted then-owner Gerald Toberman approval to redevelop the marina site, and
at the same time move all sales operations to the gas station property across the road. In 1988,
LMCD granted Sailors Worid variance approval for some dock revisions which resulted in removal
of 20 buoys located more than 200' from the shore, but allowed 10 additional dock slips 100-200'
from the shore for a period of 10 years. The 10 year period has now expired, and LMCD is
forcing the issue of slip removal.
It is stafPs view that the City agreed to moving the sales operation across the road in 1987 based on
the expected decrease in intensity of activity at the marina site that would result. The boat sales
operation eventually failed,and Toberman lost both properties. DeSantis ended up with the marina
and did the redevelopment of it himself in the early 1990's. He has completed all work on it except
landscaping,which we have allowed to be delayed pending resolution of the soil contamination
Sailors World
January 23, 1998
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issues which have'spilled over' onto the marina property from the gas station. In 1993-94 the City
approved a storage module for the marina, and in 1995 approved a boat club CUP for the site.
The City has never sanctioned boat sales at the marina, although DeSantis indicates off-season
brokerage activity has been ongoing for a number of years. He indicates this activity involves no
more than 3-5 used boats stored on site for sale. In staffs opinion,boat brokerage is a change to the
business plan for this site, for which the B-2 code requires additional parking. This marina already
has parking variances,with an agreement for off-site parking with the Art Center.
Staff Recommendation
Revisions to the business plan to allow boat sales to occur on the property will, in staff s opinion,
trigger the need for a new parking variance review and an amendment to commercial site plan, since
all prior approvals have not accounted for the 8 extra spaces the code would require for a sales
operation.
The City does not have its own dock regulations but refers to the LMCD code for dock standards.
The City in the past(1970's and 80's)has strongly supported LMCD efforts to reduce the length of
nonconforming docks. Staff is unaware whether the City had any input to LMCD regarding the
temporary slip issue in 1988.
Finally,despite DNR's input regarding the location of the storage module in 1993-94 (DNR wanted
it at least 50' from the lake), staff would support a revised location for it that does not abut the road,
where it currently sticks out like a sore thumb. This would require a new variance application and
amendment to commercial site plan.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED:
Please review Mr. DeSantis' concerns, and take whatever action you feel is appropriate regarding
support for his position on the 10 slips,and advise of the need for variances and commercial site plan
amendments for a change to allow boat sales or storage module relocation.