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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, May 05, 2010 Page 6 requirements even though the facility has long existed as a legal nonconforming 252 use. Mr. Lloyd noted that the Conditional Use request is prompted by the desire 253 to make significant circulation and operational improvements to the property, 254 triggering compliance with conditional use requirements of the City’s zoning 255 code; and advised that staff would work with the applicant through the process to 256 achieve setback compliance to City Code. 257 Staff recommended approval of the requested CONDITIONAL USE allowing the 258 continuation of the existing motor freight terminal at 2323 Terminal Road, based 259 on the comments and findings of Sections 5 and 6 of the Request for Planning 260 Commission Action dated May 5, 2010. 261 Discussion included proposed storm water upgrades and mitigation issues, as 262 required under City storm water management rules, as well as those of the 263 Watershed District, due to new paved areas and renovation of existing 264 pavement, and part of normal development procedures; with proposed 265 construction plans not yet reviewed by the City’s Building Official for energy 266 efficient design standards. 267 Applicant Representatives: Jack Lazarus, FedEx Freight, Harrison, AK and 268 Mr. Pat Brown, Managing Director of FedEx Freight (Facility Design) 269 Pat Brown 270 Mr. Brown provided a brief history of the property, originally built by Murphy 271 Motor Freight, later acquired in 1998 by American Freightways, with American 272 Freightways ultimately purchased in 2000 as a company-owned relay hub by 273 FedEx. Mr. Brown advised that this facility employs 270, and was essential to 274 their operations nation-wide, thus necessitating this request to upgrade the 275 facility to FedEx standards, due to numerous technological and automation 276 improvements and operational efficiencies seen in the trucking industry. Mr. 277 Brown advised that the facility had outgrown FedEx, with people needed on the 278 dock rather in the office. Mr. Brown reviewed the intended changes, including 5- 279 6,000 square feet of office space attached to the warehouse, with demolition of 280 the existing 28,000 square foot, two-story office section, originally built in the 281 1960’s, and faced with many structural and aesthetic problems and challenges. 282 Mr. Brown reviewed anticipated site reconfigurations to address drainage issues 283 in the employee parking lot and addressing storm water issues at the same time; 284 revisions to facilitate truck stacking on-site rather than on public roadways; 285 increased fueling capacity at another location on site; and their intent to work 286 cooperatively with the Watershed District and City engineering staff in alleviating 287 a number of issues with the site. 288 Jack Lazarus 289 Mr. Lazarus briefly revised discussion to-date with the City’s Planning 290 Department; the proposed new fuel island on the east site; new pavement in 291 place of portions of gravel parking to alleviate dust concerns; and relocation of 292 the truck entrance to allow trucks to enter the site rather than stacking on County 293 Road C and to address safety concerns for their drivers as well as the public, but 294 moving the entrance closer to the railroad tracks and avoid tying up local traffic. 295 Chair Doherty noted concerns of Commissioners related to this site being utilized 296 as a trailer storage facility. 297 Mr. Brown responded, from FedEx’s perspective, that when trailers were stacked 298 in a yard, it was a third-party company leasing to another trucking company. Mr. 299 Brown clarified that FedEx owns all their trailers and trucks; and while sometimes 300 purchasing other transportation by contract freight, they did not store empty 301 trailers on site on a long-term basis, based on the theory that trailers needed to 302 be turned over quickly, and if there was no freight available to facilitate that turn 303 over, there was no money made, and trailers sitting idle were a waste of revenue. 304