City of
Common
Council Report
Meeting
Date: March 31, 2008
Item
No.:
Recommendation: That the Council not adopt Ordinance No.
2497, which would amend Chapter 17.0315(c) of the Municipal Code to allow
limousine services with outdoor storage of vehicles a conditional use in the
B-4, Highway Business zoning district.
Background: Samer Abulughod, owner of Crystal Limousine and Coach at 904 East
Rawson Avenue, is requesting that Chapter 17.0315(c) of the Municipal Code be
amended to allow limousine services with outdoor storage of vehicles a
conditional use in the B-4, Highway Business zoning district.
Staff
has been working with Mr. Abulughod regarding his
business at this location. The present
zoning does not allow for the operation of a limousine service or specifically
the outdoor storage of vehicles in conjunction with that business. Staff
has had several meetings with Mr. Abulughod in 2007
discussing permitted uses in the B-4 district as it pertains to his limousine
business. In April 2007, the property owner came before the Plan Commission to
request a rezoning to M-1 with a conditional use for outdoor storage at 904 E.
Rawson Avenue on behalf of his landscaping business and the limousine business.
At that time, the Plan Commission made the recommendation not to rezone the
property based on the land use incompatibly as compared to the comprehensive
plan. In August 2007, the Common Council concurred with the Plan Commission’s
recommendation and denied the rezoning and asked Mr. Abulughod
to work with staff to develop alternatives for the business to continue to
operate at 904 E. Rawson Avenue.
In January of 2008, staff informed Mr. Abulughod that he had three options in which he could
pursue to continue to operate a limousine service with outdoor storage of
vehicles at 904 E. Rawson Avenue. They were:
1. Propose
a text amendment to the zoning code allowing for the outdoor storage of
limousines in a B-4, Highway Business District.
2. Store
the vehicles off-site on a parcel that allows for outdoor storage of vehicles.
3. Build
a storage building to house the limousines.
According to Mr. Abulughod,
options 2 and 3 were not feasible; therefore, he is requesting a text amendment
to allow a limousine service with outdoor storage of 15 vehicles no closer than
50 feet from the street to operate in the B-4 District. If amended, the
ordinance will allow the operation of limousine services in the B-4 District
with outdoor storage of 15 vehicles stored at least 50 feet from the street as
a conditional use.
The Plan Commission has reviewed this proposed text
amendment, and has recommended that the Municipal Code not be amended to allow limousines services
with outdoor storage of vehicles a conditional use in the B-4, Highway Business
zoning district after a public hearing.
Fiscal Impact: The fiscal impact of his proposed text
amendment is neutral.
Prepared
by: Respectfully
Submitted,
Doug
Seymour, AICP Patrick
DeGrave
Director
of Community Development City
Administrator
Fiscal
Review by:
Beverly A. Buretta, CMC
City Clerk