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<br />City of Arden Hills <br />Planning Commission Meeting for March 9, 2016 <br />P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2015\PC 15-021 - Zoning Code Amendment - Outdoor Display and Sales\Memos_15-021 <br /> <br />Page 3 of 4 <br />Location and Screening Standards <br />The following location and screening standards would be used by staff when reviewing permits <br />for outdoor display and sales: <br /> <br />• Merchandise must be stacked and arranged neatly on a hard surface and may be up to six <br />feet in height. <br />• Display area must be located adjacent to principal building and on side of building with <br />main entrance. No merchandise permitted on service station islands. <br />• Display area must not obstruct pedestrian access on the site. <br />• Display area must not occupy or obstruct on-site parking spaces. <br />• Screening required for display and sales areas located within 200 feet of a residentially <br />zoned property. <br /> <br />Merchandise Restrictions <br />The type of merchandise that could be displayed would be limited to items that require an <br />outdoor location, such as plants or fuel, and any items that because of large volume or weight are <br />kept indoors, such as vending machines, salts, or landscaping materials. <br /> <br /> <br />Findings of Fact <br /> <br />Municipalities have broad discretion when reviewing and adopting zoning regulations. However, <br />because the Zoning Code is a tool used to implement the City’s Comprehensive Plan, it is <br />necessary to understand the connection between the two documents when reviewing proposed <br />Zoning Code amendments. Staff offers the following findings of fact for the Planning <br />Commission’s consideration: <br /> <br />1. The proposed amendment advances the land use goals in the City’s Comprehensive Plan <br />because it provides land use regulations that promote development that is compatible <br />with nearby properties and neighborhood character. <br />2. The proposed amendment advances the economic development goals in the City’s <br />Comprehensive Plan because it provides for land use regulations in commercial zones <br />that provide flexibility for economic development while requiring high aesthetic <br />standards. <br />3. The proposed amendment would support local businesses and provide a convenience for <br />customers while establishing standards to limit the impacts of outdoor display and sales <br />on adjacent properties. <br /> <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />Staff recommends approval of Planning Case 15-021 to amend Section 1305.04 and Section <br />1325.02 of the Zoning Code pertaining to new regulations on outdoor display and sales areas for <br />commercial properties, as presented in the March 9, 2016, report to the Planning Commission.