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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—OCTOBER 19, 2015 4 Associate Planner Bachler noted there are other provisions which would have the effect of limiting the size of the overall display area, including that pedestrian access cannot be obstructed and that the display must be located adjacent to the principal building. Associate Planner Bachler provided examples of three local businesses and what their permitted display areas would be, and stated the recommendations from September's work session have been updated to include the revised display area and prohibit display areas on service station islands. He stated the next step would be for City staff to draft an ordinance to bring to the Planning Commission for a public hearing. Councilmember Holden asked for clarification of"gross floor area" as it would pertain to a two- story building. She asked if this is the gross floor area of just one level of the building or the combination of the two levels. Associate Planner Bachler stated that gross floor area refers to the total square footage of the building, so for a two story building it would include the second floor. Councilmember Holden stated this would mean a building with more levels can potentially have a larger display area than a building of the exact same size with only level. Associate Planner Bachler stated this was not necessarily the intent of staff. He noted that the outdoor display and sales area would be limited to retail and service station uses that typically do not have additional stories. He said that City staff will go back and amend this language. Councilmember McClung suggested using the gross floor area of the existing retail area only of a business as generally businesses would not have a retail area located on the second floor. Mayor Grant asked for clarification of a display area. He asked if it included the area for people to walk through the display or is it the actual dimensions of the display itself. Associate Planner Bachler stated that the display area just refers to the dimensions of the display itself. He added that the current recommendation made by City staff is that all businesses that desire an outdoor display must submit a site plan detailing the display area and obtain an administrative permit. Mayor Grant asked how City staff arrived at 300 square feet as the maximum display area. Associate Planner Bachler stated in review of other cities, only two have set limitations on the size of the display area for all businesses regardless of size. He said a number of cities allow display areas based on the square footage of the building, some up to 10% of the total square footage. Associate Planner Bachler indicated that the recommendation to increase the minimum display area from 200 square feet to 300 square feet was in part due to a review of the Holiday Station Store and the Shell Station. An aerial review of the Holiday property showed that a 200 square feet display area would not cover what they currently have on display. Increasing the minimum area to 300 square feet allowed more space to accommodate this building's current display needs.