7.b 4 CouncilMemoRCommUses 8.16.16
Memorandum
To: Scandia City Council Reference: Rural Commercial District Uses--
Zoning Amendment
Copies To: Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Project No.: 16023.000
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP,
Planner
Routing:
Date: August 8, 2016
Rural Commercial (R COMM) District Zoning Amendment
The Planning Commission recently updated the lists of uses allowed and permitted in the VMU
A and B Districts to move a significant number of uses from the group that requires a
Conditional Use Permit to the list of uses that are allowed in those districts without a CUP.
The lists of uses allowed and permitted in the Rural Commercial District were based on those
allowed in the VMU A and B District, and therefore the Commission reviewed the R COMM
District section of the Development Code and recommended updating that section in the same
way.
The Commission held a public hearing on the proposed changes on August 2. The Commission
received no written or verbal comments on the proposed amendment. The Commission
recommended that the Council approve the amended lists of uses in the R COMM District.
“Yard Waste Facility” was added to the list of uses permitted with a CUP in the R COMM
District This use is currently occurring with a CUP at the Abrahamson Nursery on a parcel within
the Rural Commercial District. The use was granted a CUP when the parcel was in an
Agricultural zoning classification. Adding this use in the R COMM District allows the use on the
Abrahamson Nursery property to be a conforming use in the district.
Brewery Definitions
The EDA requested that Craft Brewery be added to the list of uses allowed in the VMU A and B
Districts. Many communities are adding this use, brew pubs, and craft distillery uses to their
ordinances, hoping to encourage new local businesses.
These uses are defined in Minnesota Statutes. Minnesota is stricter than many states in
defining these uses, and distinguishing between “on-sale” and “off-sale” liquor uses. In
Minnesota, Brew Pubs and Craft Breweries are different uses.
Rural Commercial District Uses Page 2 August 16, 2016
Scandia City Council
The Commission indicated general interest in adding the craft brewery and related uses to the
ordinance at the meeting on July 5. The Planner included the Brew on Premises Store use in
the allowed uses in the R COMM District, and the other uses (Craft Brewery, Craft Distillery,
Brew Pub and Craft Winery) uses in the list of uses that require a CUP in the District, to be
consistent with other alcohol-related uses in the ordinance. The Commission will consider
whether these uses should be permitted in the VMU A, d VMU B, and VN districts in the future.
Request for Council Action
The Planning Commission requests that the City Council approve the amended list of uses
proposed for the Rural Commercial District.