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City of Arden Hills City Council Meeting for March 28, 2016 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2015\PC 15-021 - Zoning Code Amendment - Outdoor Display and Sales\Memos_15-021 Page 2 of 3 discussed by the City Council at several meetings in the fall of 2015 and staff was directed at the Work Session on January 19, 2016 to process the proposed Zoning Code amendment. The required public hearing and review for the amendment were held by the Planning Commission on March 9, 2016. While it can be in a community’s interest to allow outdoor display and sales for retail stores and service stations since it supports businesses and is an added convenience for customers, unregulated display areas can become disorderly. The purpose of the amendment is to put in place regulations to permit outdoor display and sales for certain businesses if standards on dimension area, location, screening, and merchandise are met. Ordinance Number 2016-004 and the Summary for publication are included in Attachment A. The red-lined version of the proposed amendment has also been provided in Attachment B. The City Attorney has reviewed the Ordinance and approved of the proposed language. Findings of Fact Municipalities have broad discretion when reviewing and adopting zoning regulations. However, because the Zoning Code is a tool used to implement the City’s Comprehensive Plan it is necessary to understand the connection between the two documents when reviewing proposed Zoning Code amendments. The Planning Commission reviewed Planning Case 15-021 at their regular meeting on March 9, 2016. Draft minutes from the meeting are included in Attachment E. The Planning Commission offers the following findings of fact for consideration: 1. The proposed amendment advances the land use goals in the City’s Comprehensive Plan because it provides land use regulations that promote development that is compatible with nearby properties and neighborhood character. 2. The proposed amendment advances the economic development goals in the City’s Comprehensive Plan because it provides for land use regulations in commercial zones that provide flexibility for economic development while requiring high aesthetic standards. 3. The proposed amendment would support local businesses and provide a convenience for customers while establishing standards to limit the impacts of outdoor display and sales on adjacent properties. Recommendation The Planning Commission reviewed Planning Case 15-021 at their regular meeting on March 9, 2016, and unanimously recommends approval (4-0) of the proposed amendment to Chapter 13,