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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION February 5, 2014 2 1. The property at 1209 County Road E West is located in the B-2 General Business District. 2. The proposed ambulance substation is not allowed as a permitted conditional use within the B-2 District. 3. The applicant has requested a Zoning Code amendment to include ambulance dispatch facility as a conditional use in the B-2 District. 4. The proposed ambulance dispatch facility land use is compatible with other uses in the B- 2 District. 5. Special issues inherent in the proposed ambulance dispatch facility land use warrant the classification of this use as conditional rather than permitted. 6. The proposed ambulance dispatch facility land use is consistent with the purpose of the B-2 District. 7. Medical emergency call responders provide an important public service to the community and this land use should be accommodated within appropriate zoning districts. Associate Planner Bachler explained that staff recommends approval of Ordinance Number 14- 001 in Planning Case 14-004 for amendments to Section 1305.04 and Section 1320.05 of the Zoning Code to create a new definition for the proposed ambulance dispatch facility land use and to allow the use as a conditional use within the B-2 General Business District. Associate Planner Bachler reviewed the options available to the Planning Commission on this matter: 1. Recommend Approval as Submitted. 2. Recommend Approval with Changes. 3. Recommend Denial 4. Table Vice Chair Thompson opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Bartel asked if the City had any zoning districts currently in the City that allowed for an ambulance dispatch facility. Associate Planner Bachler reported there were not and that the City would be creating a new land use category specifically to meet this unique need. He discussed how the ambulance substation was comparable to an office/warehouse use. Vice Chair Thompson questioned if the City had other areas that would be a better fit for the proposed ambulance dispatch facility land use. Associate Planner Bachler stated this was taken into consideration by staff. Staff believed that for this specific case it would be best to limit the scope of the use to the B-2 Zoning District. Commissioner Hames asked if the City had emergency vehicles coming in and out of the Lake Johanna Fire Department building. Associate Planner Bachler explained that ambulances were not using this facility as a dispatch center.