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CITY OF GEM LAKE Office of the City Clerk Z _ — 1369 County Road "E" East- - —` Gem Lake, MN 55110-5231 Telephone: ( 651 ) 426 - 6443 Email: gemlakecity@aol.com Facsimile: ( 651) 426 - 6444 Memo to: Mayor Emeott From: Jack Hoeschler, Planning Commission Chair Date: March 16, 2006 Re: Planning Commission Meeting of March 14, 2006 The Gem Lake Planning Commission held its March meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at Tousley Ford. Messrs Lindner, Wippich and Hoeschler were present, along with Messrs Magnuson and Emeott as co -zoning administrators. We discussed the following: 1. Possible KFC Property for Enterprise Auto Rental. Mr. Magnuson introduced Brian and Steve Flanagan, the owners of the property and Rick Mendlick and Nancy Wiggins representing Enterprise, the potential tenant. He described the problem presented by the existing Retail Business zoning on the site which does not allow open sales (though the neighboring GB district does so). He recounted our previous actions wherein we told Mr. Gerner that we would not allow a used car lot (even for southern cars and trucks) on this site and we also would not allow a small used car lot just across from County Road E to the south of the site. He said that there was no formal application yet but that this was merely an effort to introduce the parties and the issue in order to see whether the sense of the meeting was that an amendment to the rule should be proposed and a formal application made. / Steve Flanagan distributed descriptive materials about the site and Rick Mendlick stated that the proposed use was retail auto rental only for late model cars, with the core customer base being nearby dealers and repair shops who use Enterprise to provide loaner cars for customers. They would be open 7 days a week and would also serve the surrounding neighborhood. He said the building and lot were an ideal size for their needs. There was a discussion of surrounding properties and the Flanagans were urged to try to acquire the small lot behind their property. The possible use of the car wash facility next door was also discussed but Mr. Mendlick said they would likely build a hand washing bay within the building for their needs. They would like a pole and building sign but will present detailed plans that will conform to city rules later. The consensus of the meeting was that the use seems appropriate, especially north of County Road E, that a rezoning is not the preferred approach but rather adding retail car rental as a conditional use to the existing retail business uses would be the easiest way to provide for the use and appropriate safeguards. Paul and Fritz were asked to present specific language suggestions at our April meeting. The applicants were warned to work closely with Fritz to get the necessary paper work completed so that a public hearing can be held at our April meeting to consider and act on all of this. 2. Maculus Variance. Mr. Maculus did not appear but Dan and Mary Jansen of 1161 Little Fox Road spoke in opposition to any variance for Mr. Maculus' accessory buildings because they