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Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, January 2, 2013 Page 2 staff report, set to expire on December 31, 2015; upon relocation of the operation off the property, 45 or upon successful application for a zoning change for this parcel, whichever occurs first. 46 Discussion among staff and commissioners included the location of the existing fence along 47 Larpenteur Avenue, and around the sides of Saint Albans Street and north of the emerald Ridge 48 cul-de-sac; use of the property for the last seven (7) years as a residential property for a Linder 49 relative, with no commercial use to staff’s knowledge during that time; and current Zoning code 50 guidance for low density residential (LDR), potentially single-family or something of that nature, 51 with a maximum residential density of no more than four (4) units per acre, indicating that up to 52 three (3) additional homes could be build on this parcel. 53 Applicant Representative Tom Carlson, Owner of HostasDirect, Inc. 54 Mr. Carlson, a Roseville resident, small business owner and active in the community, provided a 55 background of his company; and proposed use of the property as detailed in the staff report 56 narrative (Attachment D) dated December 7, 2012. Mr. Carlson’s synopsis of the proposed use 57 included a description of the seasonal shade structures proposed for use from early April until 58 early October annually on Mr. Henry Linder’s property; access to the existing concrete driveway 59 on the east side of the property for delivery and/or transport of plant anticipated to be 60 approximately two (2) days/week from early May until mid-September to facilitate shipping of 61 plants sold on-line. Mr. Carlson stressed that there would be no retail sales on the site, as that 62 was not the focus of his business. 63 Mr. Carlson reviewed several options that could occur on the parcel in the future and potential 64 advantages and disadvantages from a neighborhood perspective. Mr. Carlson opined that those 65 options would be for his quiet company to have growing operations for six (6) months each year, 66 with employment for a few workers on site during the week. Mr. Carlson advised that he would 67 take the initiative to ensure the fence painting was completed, and would be open to any other 68 potential screening or trees that would improve aesthetics for the neighbors, if that remained a 69 concern for them. Mr. Carlson noted that another option could be that the property owner could 70 sell his land to a developer for additional homes on the site, an option that may be less amenable 71 to neighbors. 72 Mr. Carlson reviewed the operations of his business in detail for the benefit of the audience and 73 public, and as provided in Attachment D. Mr. Carlson noted that a van or small truck would pick 74 up and return plant to the Minneapolis Annex as a trial sales option for his company this year; 75 however, if it was not found to be profitable, there sales would revert exclusively to online sales 76 only. 77 Mr. Carlson advised that he recognized the valid concerns expressed by neighbors, and assured 78 all the Commission that he wanted to be a good neighbor. Mr. Carlson responded to specific 79 concerns of neighbors related to and his solutions to those concerns (e.g. height and size of new 80 hoop greenhouses replaced with shorter shade tents; small impact on property values due to no 81 retail sales and little additional traffic; limited traffic and parking in the vicinity beyond that already 82 done by neighbors; and no use of semi-trailer trucks for deliveries or pick-ups, with the applicant 83 personally shipping plant via the United States Postal Service; and exclusive internet based 84 operation, with the exception of the trial sales at the Minneapolis Farmers Annex). 85 Regarding environmental concerns raised by neighbors, Mr. Carlson assured all that he was very 86 actively concerned about the environment and addressed the specific fertilizer used and lack of 87 runoff into the lake from his use. 88 Regarding employees for his business, Mr. Carlson reviewed and expressed pride in the quality 89 of his past and present workers, many of whom were Roseville residents, students and interested 90 in seeking additional business knowledge from their work in his operation. 91 Mr. Carlson provided several examples of shade house structures and related equipment; and 92 noted that there were three (3) existing permanent greenhouse structures already on the side that 93 were owned by Mr. Henry Linder, property owner. Mr. Carlson advised that he was more than 94 willing to work with neighbors now and long-term, and would prefer a five (5) year Interim Use, 95 based on his confidence that neighbors would become convinced that his business was a good 96 option for the site and the neighborhood. 97