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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – May 7, 2025 6 Senior Planner Fransen stated at the October 19, 2015 City Council Work Session, staff presented possible revisions to the Zoning Code to address retail and resale businesses as directed by the City Council. Revisions were drafted after staff completed research on the operational characteristics of thrift stores, such as receiving materials and processing items for resale. At the December 21, 2015 City Council Work Session, staff shared two separate definitions to clarify the difference between “Retail Sales and Services” and “Thrift Store” establishments. Staff also shared drafted Conditional Use Permit criteria for Thrift Stores. Senior Planner Fransen explained the drafted amendments were reviewed at the February 29, 2016 Regular City Council Meeting and approved with amendments to adopt the definitions and allow thrift stores as a conditional use in the B-4 and I-FLEX Zoning Districts. As part of the drafted amendments adopted on February 29, 2016, Section 1325.046 of the City Zoning Code provides for additional conditional use permit criteria for a Thrift Store use related to the location of operations and storage, waste and recycling receptacles and drive through access. Senior Planner Fransen elaborated that at the March 10, 2025 City Council Work Session, Councilmembers discussed how the City’s zoning code regulates the land use of thrift store. The conversation included a discussion of in which zoning districts the land use was currently allowed and the regulation of thrift store use by conditional use permit. Direction was given to staff to provide information on the current zoning language for thrift store use for discussion at a future City Council Work Session. At the April 14, 2025 City Council Work Session, staff presented findings, explaining that retail sales and service and thrift store uses are defined separately in the Zoning Code. Retail sales and services and thrift store uses are also zoned separately. Senior Planner Fransen summarized that Councilmembers discussed the provided information and the current zoning language for thrift store use. Comments included suggestions to address types of thrift store operations that would be conducted in the business location, to allow for a thrift store use in the B-2 and B-3 Zoning Districts, and to distinguish between different intensities of thrift store operations. Direction was given to staff to draft ordinance language to modify how a thrift store use is regulated in the Zoning Code and to bring the drafted amendments to the Planning Commission for review. Senior Planner Fransen provided an overview of the Ordinance Amendments and offered the following Findings of Fact for review: General Findings: 1. The City of Arden Hills is proposing to modify definitions for thrift store use, modify zoning districts for thrift store use, and modify performance standards for thrift store use in the Zoning Code. 2. The proposed ordinance will include amendments to the language of Chapter 13 – Zoning Code, Sections 1305.04 - Definitions, 1320.05 – Land Use Chart, and 1325.046 – Thrift Store Additional Conditional Use Permit Criteria of the City Code. 3. The proposed ordinance amendments will allow Thrift Store, Class I as a Permitted Use under the B-2 General Business, B-3 Service Business, B-4 Retail Center, and I-FLEX Zoning Districts. 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.