7.a)1) Staff Report -MemoIndustrialParkDistrict 9.15.15444 Cedar Street, Suite 1500
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Memorandum
To: Scandia City Council
Copies To: Kristina Handt, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Reference: Industrial Park (IP) District --
Ordinance Amendment
Project No.: 15745.000
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP, Routing:
Planner
Date: September 8, 2015
Background
Scandia's Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 1 regarding proposed
amendments to the City's Zoning Ordinance Chapter 2, Section 2.10 that regulates the City's
Industrial Park (IP) Zoning District.
The City's Economic Development Authority (EDA) has been reviewing zoning requirements
that they believe are a challenge for encouraging economic development in Scandia. They
reviewed the ordinance section on the Industrial Park (IP) District, compared it to similar districts
in other communities, and noted that the list of Permitted uses (those that don't require a CUP
or administrative Permit) was limited in Scandia's IP District in comparison to the ordinances of
other smaller cities. Many of the uses that require a Conditional Use Permit in Scandia's IP
District do not require permits in other communities, such as Hugo, Forest Lake, Chisago City,
and Columbus. Those uses include Light Manufacturing, Warehousing and Distribution,
Storage, Nursery/Greenhouse/Landscaping businesses, Contractor Operations and Offices,
Print Shops, Recreational Facilities, and Wholesaling.
The EDA requested that the Planning Commission review the uses permitted in the IP District,
and consider amending Scandia's ordinance to include the uses listed above as permitted uses
that do not require a conditional use permit.
Recommended Ordinance
The Planning Commission reviewed and discussed the existing ordinance at their August 4
meeting. They agreed with many of the recommendations that the EDA made, and requested
that staff provide an ordinance amendment that included the following:
An employee owned company promoting affirmative action and equal opportunity
Industrial Park Zoning Amendment Page 2 September 15, 2015
Scandia City Council
A revised list of Permitted uses include many of the uses that currently require a CUP in
Scandia so that the uses no longer require a CUP, and to expand the list of Permitted
uses to include some common uses in Industrial Districts.
Reference the performance standards that are included in other sections of the
ordinance that are important for uses in the Industrial Park District.
Added a new performance standard related to screening of mechanical equipment, since
this issue is not addressed elsewhere in the Code.
Added a standard that permits the Council to require inspections or tests if needed to
determine if a business is complying with the ordinance standards and State and
Federal regulations at the cost of the owner or operator of the industrial use.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing for the proposed ordinance amendment on
September 1. The Commission received no verbal or written comments on the ordinance at the
hearing.
Recommendation for Council Action
The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance 164, amending
Chapter 2, Section 2.10 regarding the Industrial Park District.
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