The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2015-04-27 PACKET 06.1.STAFF REPORT CASE: ICUP2015 -010 ITEM: 6.1 PUBLIC MEETING DATE: 4/27/15 TENTATIVE COUNCIL REVIEW DATE: 516/15 APPLICATION APPLICANT: Walmart REQUEST: Interim conditional use permit to allow a temporary outdoor garden center in the parking lot at Walmart. SITE DATA LOCATION: ZONING: GUIDED LAND USE: 9300 East Point Douglas Road South B -2, Retail Business Commercial LAND USE OF ADJACENT PROPERTIES: CURRENT GUIDED NORTH: Residential Residential EAST: Fallow Agriculture Commercial SOUTH: Highway 61 Highway 61 WEST: Commercial Commercial SIZE: N/A DENSITY: N/A RECOMMENDATION Approval, subject to the conditions stipulated in this staff report. potta rove ge COTTAGE GROVE PLANNING DIVISION J G ' N a Pdde 30"-'9ally Meet Planning Staff Contact: John M. Burbank, Senior Planner, 651 - 458 -2825, IburbankCoD_cottage- g rove. org Application Accepted:. April 8 2015 60 -Day Review Deadline: June 7, 2015 City of Cottage Grove Planning Division • 12800 Ravine Parkway South • Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Planning Staff Report Walmart Interim Conditional Use Permit Planning Case No. ICUP15 -010 April 27, 2015 Proposal Walmart is requesting approval of an interim conditional use permit (ICUP) to conduct outdoor seasonal sales of landscaping materials and plants in the northwest corner of their parking lot on their property at located at 9300 East Point Douglas Road. Pallets of sales material will be erected along the perimeter of the outdoor sales area. The outdoor sales at this site are pro- posed to operate in 2015 from May 7 to July 1. The applicant is requesting that the interim conditional use permit be granted for a five -year period. Location Map Background During the building permit review for the new store, it was noted that the site plan included water and electricity for an outdoor garden center. A condition was added to the permit noting that that an interim conditional use permit is required for outdoor seasonal sales and greenhouses. In 2014 the applicant received a one -year ICUP approval for outdoor sales in the parking lot. The 2014 request did not include a temporary hoop house. The applicant is requesting a five -year interim conditional use permit with this application. Planning Considerations Property Characteristics The Walmart site is fully developed on 23.5 acres of land. The property is commercially guided and located within the B -2, Retail Business zoning district. The 188,000 square foot retail merchandise building is located at the north end of the site. There are 850 parking spaces provided on the site. r � xx x ! 1 1 1 � 1 51TE a� Location Map Background During the building permit review for the new store, it was noted that the site plan included water and electricity for an outdoor garden center. A condition was added to the permit noting that that an interim conditional use permit is required for outdoor seasonal sales and greenhouses. In 2014 the applicant received a one -year ICUP approval for outdoor sales in the parking lot. The 2014 request did not include a temporary hoop house. The applicant is requesting a five -year interim conditional use permit with this application. Planning Considerations Property Characteristics The Walmart site is fully developed on 23.5 acres of land. The property is commercially guided and located within the B -2, Retail Business zoning district. The 188,000 square foot retail merchandise building is located at the north end of the site. There are 850 parking spaces provided on the site. Planning Staff Report — ICUP15 -010 Walmart Interim Conditional Use Permit— Outdoor Sales April 27, 2015 Page 2 of 6 Motor vehicle access is provided from East Point Douglas Road and the southern public road that serves the balance of the Apache property. The outdoor display and sales of nursery products and merchandise utilizes 54 parking spaces. On other similar proposed temporary uses, the short-term loss of parking has not proven to have a negative impact on the site's parking operation. There is an abundant number of parking spaces still available in the vicinity and on the site as a whole. The 2014 operations were monitored by staff and did not appear to cause any negative impact on the site's parking needs. .._... I N i I! �. Outdoor Seasonal Sales Location Planning Staff Report — ICUP15 -010 Walmart Interim Conditional Use Permit — Outdoor Sales April 27, 2015 Page 3 of 6 Outdoor Sales The applicant proposes to conduct outdoor sales of landscaping material within the perimeter of the designated display area. The applicant is not proposing to construct temporary hooped green house in 2015, but is requesting the ability to utilize an outdoor hoop house in the future if desired or needed. During the Planning Commission review in 2014, there was some concern voiced by the Commission on the potential conflict between pedestrians and traffic ingressing and egressing the site via the northern access point to the site. The 2014 operations were moni- tored by staff and did not appear to cause any negative impact on the operation and function of the site. 2014 Operations Review Outdoor Storage In addition to the garden sales in the parking lot, the applicant is requesting the ability to have exte- rior pallet storage in the outdoor storage racks north of the fenced -in garden center; outdoor storage on the site is prohibited. Planning Staff Report — ICUP15 -010 Walmart Interim Conditional Use Permit — Outdoor Sales April 27, 2015 Page 4 of 6 �}• '�Mktal . btl ��► .fL ITT IR t !T r, F t Outdoor Pallet Storage Racks This use was permitted with the 2014 approval, but did not cease after the outdoor sales were completed in July. It is recommended that prior to sales being conducted in the parking lot, the pal- let storage racks be removed to below the height of the attached outdoor garden center fencing. It is further recommended that the pallet storage on the racks cease with the indoor and outdoor gar- den sales in 2015. If the applicant intends to continue storage on the pallet rack, a permanent screening enclosure must be constructed. The Woodbury pallet enclosure screening is identified below. A similar enclosure design would be required in Cottage Grove should the applicant elect to continue outdoor pallet storage beyond the garden center sales period. Planning Staff Report— ICUP15 -010 Walmart Interim Conditional Use Permit — Outdoor Sales April 27, 2015 Page 5 of 6 Review of ortho imagery of the site also reveals that the pallet storage on the site exceeded the pallet rack storage capacity and confines. This is prohibited and is not recommended to be per- mitted as a component of the 2015 ICUP. Currently and in the past, the applicant has also utilized shipping container /pod storage on the site. This use is also prohibited and is not recommended to be permitted as a component of the 2015 ICUP. 1 C ti.. . Public Hearing Notices Notice announcing this public hearing was published in the South Washington County Bulletin on April 15, 2015. Public hearing notices were also mailed to 67 property owners within 500 feet of the property on April 16, 2015. Overflow Outdoor Pallet Storage Planning Staff Report — ICUP15 -010 Walmart Interim Conditional Use Permit — Outdoor Sales April 27, 2015 Page 6 of 6 Summary The proposed use is temporary in nature and the sales items are consistent with approved mer- chandise for the B -2 zoning district. Seasonal outdoor sales and storage are listed as an interim conditional use, and as proposed, the use would meet the criteria for issuing this type of permit. Recommendation That the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve Walmart's interim conditional use permit to conduct outdoor seasonal sales of landscaping materials and plants in the northwest corner of their parking lot, subject to the following conditions: 1. The interim conditional use permit is valid beginning on May 7, 2015 and expires on July 1, 2020. In subsequent years, the approved start date is April 1. 2. Prior to sales being conducted in the parking lot, the pallet storage racks shall be removed to below the height of the attached outdoor garden center fencing. 3. The outdoor storage of pallets on the racks shall cease with the indoor and outdoor garden sales in 2015. If the applicant intends to continue storage on the pallet rack, a permanent screening enclosure meeting the approval of the Community Development Department must be constructed. 4. The applicant must annually pay the interim conditional use permit application fee to the City prior to the operation of the seasonal outdoor sales. 5. The use of temporary hoop greenhouses is permitted and approved with issuance of the annual building permit. 6. The outdoor seasonal sales shall only be conducted in the designated sales area. 7. Sales and display of landscaping materials are prohibited on the parking lot's landscaped islands. 8. Electricity and water for the outdoor seasonal sales area shall be serviced from the service hub constructed with the original site approval. Overland service is prohibited from the main building. 9. Free - standing signs or off - premise advertising are prohibited. 10. A sign package shall be submitted with the building permit application and must be approved by the Planning Division. Prepared by John M. Burbank, AICP Senior Planner