8. PC Resolution - Redeemed Farms 06.02.2020CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA
PC RESOLUTION NO. 2020 -XX
APPROVING VARIANCE AND INTERIM USE PERMIT AMENDMENT FOR
PARCEL 16.032.20.31.0005 LOCATED AT 12680 SCANDIA TRAIL NORTH
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Gacek made an application for a Variance and Interim Use Permit
Amendment to allow more than one (1) event per day at Redeemed Farm Rural Event Facility on
property at 12680 Scandia Trail North, and
WHEREAS, the property is legally described in Attachment A; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed the request for the Variance and
Interim Use Permit amendment at a duly noticed Public Hearing on June 2, 2020, and
recommended that the City Council approve them with conditions;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SCANDIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY,
MINNESOTA, that it should and hereby does recommend that the City Council approve a
Variance and Interim Use Permit Amendment to allow more than one (1) event per day at
Redeemed Farm Rural Event Facility on property at 12680 Scandia Trail North, based on the
following findings:
The Redeemed Farm use was determined to be in harmony with the Comprehensive Plan
when initially approved. The requested change at this time does not change the nature of
the use in a manner that makes it less harmonious with the Comprehensive Plan than the
existing use approved under the Interim Use Permit.
2. The request redistributes the level of activities and visitation already approved for the
Rural Event Facility into smaller events across the day. The proposed redistribution of
event activity is a reasonable use of the property.
3. The practical difficulties relate to the unexpected onset Covid-19, with legal and personal
choice limits on large event gatherings. The difficulty is unique to the times and is
negatively impacting many businesses. Businesses are seeking creative solutions to adjust
services to meet the special circumstances of Covid-19. The practical difficulties posed
by Covid-19 on large events are not caused by the current landowner and are unique to
the property with this type of business.
4. The variance shifts existing activity from a large event into smaller events, which reduces
the need for music amplification and better distributes trips to and from the site across the
day. The type of activities at the site remain the same and redistributing the activity
would not alter the essential character of the area.
5. The outbreak of Covid-19 poses practical difficulties that prevent large gatherings, which
are the nature of the business. The proposed change in the size and number of events is a
response to Covid-19, and the practical difficulties are not only economic in nature
Resolution No.: 2020 -XX
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6. The proposed variance shifts the nature of events already occurring at the site. Instead of
single -large events up to once a day, there would be multiple small events per day. The
smaller events will reduce the number of vehicles coming to and from the site at any one
time, which will reduce traffic congestion. The smaller events will not need the same
level of music amplification for people to hear and produce lower noise impacts in the
area. These changes will not impair the supply of light or air to adjacent properties,
increase congestion, endanger the public, or substantially diminish or impair property
values in the neighborhood.
7. The proposed change in the type and frequency of events will not increase the overall
level of activity if the number of visitors to the site in a single day does not increase. The
shift is the minimum action required to eliminate the practical difficulty if overall
visitation per day remains the same.
8. The variance is not related to a need for direct sunlight for solar energy systems.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the following conditions of approval shall be met:
1. No more than 300 people per day shall be hosted on the site over the course of up to four
(4) events, with no more than 200 people per event.
2. The allowed number of events per year shall not exceed 300 events, which is four times
the limit of 75 events per year based on a one (1) event maximum per day.
3. The change in the maximum number of events per day from one (1) to four (4) shall be
permitted on an interim basis through the end of the Interim Use Permit term in October
2021, in response to event size limits posed by Covid-19. At such time, the Interim Use
Permit will revert to a limit of one (1) event per day. At that time, the applicant may re-
apply for the four (4) per day event limit if they choose.
4. The applicant shall pay all fees and escrows associated with this application.
5. The applicant shall pay all fees and escrow costs related to the application.
Adopted by the Scandia Planning Commission this 2nd day of June, 2020.
Dan Squyres, Chair
ATTEST:
Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator