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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — MAY 27, 2025 8 4. The proposed ordinance amendments will allow Thrift Store, Class II as a Conditional Use under the B-2 General Business, B-3 Service Business, B-4 Retail Center and I -FLEX Zoning Districts. 5. The proposed ordinance amendments will establish criteria for all thrift stores to meet and criteria specific to Thrift Store, Class I and Thrift Store, Class II uses. 6. Amendments to the Zoning Code regulations require a public hearing prior to action by the City Council. 7. The Planning Commission conducted the required public hearing on May 7, 2025 Senior Planner Fransen reported that the Planning Commission reviewed this application at their May 7, 2025 meeting. At that time, they recommended approval with amendments of Planning Case 25-003 for Zoning Code Amendments to Chapter 13 by a 6-0 vote. Staff provided the Council with language to adopt Ordinance 2025-001 and authorize the publication of a Summary Ordinance for Planning Case 25-003 for a Zoning Code Amendment to Chapter 13 of the Arden Hills City Code to modify definitions for thrift store use, modify zoning districts for thrift store use, and modify performance standards for thrift store use, based on the findings of fact and as presented in the May 27, 2025 Report to the City Council. Councilmember Holden reported she would like the thrift store use struck from the B-3 zoning district. In addition, she recommended the thrift store use be a conditional use for all remaining zoning districts. Councilmember Rousseau indicated she supported thrift uses in the B-3 zoning district. Mayor Grant commented he recommended the permitted use be changed to conditional use for all thrift stores. He did not believe thrift stores should be allowed in the B-3 zoning district. Councilmember Monson stated the B-2 zoning district was proposed to have mixed use and she believed it made sense to allow thrift stores. She explained the B-3 zoning district was intended to allow for corridor businesses, which would not make sense for thrift stores. She suggested Class I thrift uses permitted and that Class II thrift uses be conditional. Councilmember Holden stated a PUD amendment requires four votes. She indicated she would have a hard time keeping the thrift use in the B-3 zoning district. She reported the thrift use was within the service industry and did not fit with the other businesses in the B-3 zoning district. She reviewed all of the locations a thrift store could locate within Arden Hills. It was her hope that something special would go into the Amazon property. Mayor Grant stated Amazon owns this building and they were a company with vision and deep pockets. He understood this would be a desirable location for a thrift store given the donations that would be received, but he did not believe this would be the highest and best use for the Amazon property. He supported the City waiting to see what would come to this property. Councilmember Weber explained he supported the ordinance as written and amended by the Planning Commission. He thanked staff for all of their efforts on the ordinance. He expressed concern by the fact one Councilmember has already made it clear she would not support a PUD amendment and noted this could mean there were no thrift stores in Arden Hills.