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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, Apri128, 2008 Page 19 Councilmember Roe advised that he'd come to tonight's meeting unsure of how he would vote. Councilmember Roe offered his appreciation for the research provided by the public; and noted that he'd also done his own personal research of regulations in the state and in other states, and had come away with a sense of ap- preciation for the strong regulations for pawnshops in the State of MN, with other states using us as a model. Councilmember Roe advised that he did not usually want to unnecessarily restrict a business that was allowed by State Statute and City Code; but after taking everything into consideration, he spoke in support of the motion, based on the perceptions of decreased property values and how other communities have found the need to regulate and restrict this type of business in residential areas, and areas with liquor stores and/ or schools. Councilmember Roe noted the need for future review by the City Council of their licensure requirements for pawnbrokers and similar businesses; noting his intent to look at how pawnshops are regulated, their location, and how they relate to other uses and comparable businesses in the receipt of stolen property, as well as possible restrictions for locations of such types of businesses. Mayor Klausing spoke in opposition to the motion; while having hoped he would hear something that would lead him to deny the CUP application; noting that clearly people were opposed, but based on his research and review of criteria for approval, opined that he could not support the denial, based on zoning designation of the proposed location and it's compatibility with the City's Comprehensive Plan; the shopping center owner's determination that this use would not impact his other tenants in the multi-tenant mall; and the only remaining issues being that of the impacts on the general public health, safety and welfare, with his inability to qualify those concerns. Mayor Klausing reviewed the criteria in Section 6 of the staff report and noted that this was a niche market, and recognized concerns expressed and respected the decision of his fellow Councilmembers and their opinions; however, opined that in all good conscious, he couldn't support the motion. Pust moved, Ihlan seconded, to DENY the request of Rosewood Center Partners (and Red Dog Holdings LLC, d/b/a Cash-N-Pawn), for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow a Pawn Shop at 2189 Snelling Avenue (PF-08-014); based on findings articulated and to be more formally presented at a later meeting. In order for staff and the City Attorney to draft formal findings of fact for denial, City Attorney reviewed the findings as articulated by individual Councilmembers for clarification. The findings of fact were based on the following comments of Councilmembers Ihlan, Roe and Pust: • CUP Criteria 6.5: The perception of residents that "location, location, loca- tion" can affect a decrease in property values; based on comments and studies identified by public speaker, Ms. Cavanaugh, and referenced impacts of those