7.b 3 Amending the Development Code to modify the AOP renewal for rural event centers
Memorandum
To: Scandia City Council Reference: Rural Event Ordinance
Amendment
Copies To: Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Project No.: 16323.000
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP,
Planner
Routing:
Date: October 9, 2017
Background
The City Council recently reviewed Jeff Gacek’s application for an Annual Operating Permit for
Redeemed Farm, a Rural Event Facility. During the AOP discussion, Mr. Gacek asked if the
review and approval of the AOP could be completed in the future using an administrative permit
process to avoid the costs related to review by the City’s consultants and City Council. The
Council agreed that this change could be made in the ordinance if an option was included that
permitted the City to require Council review of the AOP if annual review of the facility indicated
that it was not complying with the conditions of the IUP and AOP.
Planning Commission Public Hearing and Discussion
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance amendment at their
meeting on October 3. The Commission received a variety of comments on the amendment,
summarized as follows:
The City should observe the operations of rural event facilities and their compliance with
the ordinance for a longer time before amending the ordinance.
The City only has experience with one rural event facility, and this is not enough to justify
the change.
The rural event center operator commented that staff reviews are costly, and only mining
operations and rural event facilities require the annual operating permits. The ordinance
amendment continues to permit the Administrator to require staff review and Council
approval if there are issues with the operation of the facility.
The Commission discussed the comments and noted the following:
The amendment would apply to all rural event facilities, not just the existing facility.
The amendment permits the Administrator to require staff review and evaluation of
facilities and Council review of the AOP if problems are identified.
Code Amendment – Rural Event Facilities Page 2 October 17, 2017
Scandia City Council
Simplifying administration of the Development Code when there are no problems makes
sense. The amendment would not change the review process if the City or residents
identify potential problems occurring in the operation of rural event facilities.
Planning Commission Recommendation
The Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the amendment to the
Development Code regulations for Rural Event Facilities.