2015-03-24 Planning Comm Minutes
AYES: 5
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 1 (Roston)
ABSENT: 1 (Viksnins)
Chair Field advised the City Council would consider this application at its April 7, 2015 meeting.
PLANNING CASE #2015-08
City of Mendota Heights
Proposed amendments to the Business and License Requirements Title of the City Code
City Planner Nolan Wall explained that the City was considering various amendments to Title 3,
Chapter 3 of the City Code pertaining to peddlers, solicitors, canvassers, and transient merchants.
The Planning Commission review is being sought because the proposed DRAFT Ordinance 475
does also include new standards (Section 7) that would allow mobile food trucks in the Industrial
District with conditions. The Industrial District is located in the far southwest corner of the City.
The Industrial District contains a mix of office, warehouse, and hotel uses. Most notably, it lacks
certain amenities, especially food service options. As a result, staff does get frequent inquiries to
allow mobile food trucks in this area. Some of them have been approved administratively for
special events with few conditions on that use.
The mobile food truck vendors would be required to register with the City, which is different from
a licensing procedure and would be easier to deal with at the staff level. It’s easier to verify that
insurance and permits from other agencies are valid and also to provide the vendor with those
operational requirements that are included in DRAFT Ordinance 475. The operational
requirements are being proposed to mitigate potential negative impacts to the surrounding
properties and to the public streets.
Planner Wall briefly described the proposed operational requirements.
Commissioners asked questions and had discussions regarding private versus institutional food
trucks being allowed on the properties; tables, chairs, and other structures being prohibited; the
potential for an interim use permit instead of registration; the potential for future issues with any
restaurant wishing to build in the Industrial District; how long the registration is good for; if input
was obtained from the Minnesota Food Truck Association; definition of a mobile food truck; and
if this would include the business park area.
Planner Wall summarized the proposed edits from the Commission as follows:
1.Amend the definition of a ‘mobile food truck’ – basically clarifying that instead of “within
the Corporate City Limits” it reads “the Industrial District” – this should also be amended
in the “Purpose of this Chapter” sentence
2.Amendment to 3-3-6(B)(2), replacing the word “proper” with “required”
3.Amendment to 3-3-6(B)(6), prohibit picnic tables and benches in areas that are public right-
of-way, designated parking areas, fire lanes, or driveways
4.Limiting the registration period to one year
March 24, 2015 Mendota Heights Planning Commission Meeting Page 6
Chair Field opened the public hearing.
Seeing no one coming forward wishing to speak, Chair Field asked for a motion to close the public
hearing.
Chair Field asked for a motion to close the public hearing.
COMMISSIONER NOONAN MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COSTELLO, TO
CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AYES: 6
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 1
COMMISSIONER COSTELLO MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER NOONAN, TO
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF PLANNING CASE 2015-08, DRAFT ORDINANCE 475
SECTIONS 2 AND 7 PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS – PEDDLERS, SOLICITORS,
CANVASSERS AND TRANSIET MERCHANTS SUBJECT TO THE PLANNING
COMMISSION’S COMMENTS MADE THIS EVENING.
AYES: 6
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 1 (Viksnins)
Chair Field advised the City Council would consider this application at its April 7, 2015 meeting.
Verbal Review
Planner Wall gave the following verbal review:
PLANNING CASE #2015-01
1680 Mayfield Heights Road
Critical Area Permit, Conditional Use Permit, Variance, and Wetlands Permit
Approved by the City Council, as recommended by the Planning Commission
PLANNING CASE #2015-02
2540 Arbor Court
Wetlands Permit
Approved by the City Council, as recommended by the Planning Commission
PLANNING CASE #2015-03
1897 Delaware Avenue
Conditional Use Permit
Approved by the City Council, as recommended by the Planning Commission
PLANNING CASE #2014-37
Proposed amendment to the Wetlands System Chapter of the City Code
Approved by the City Council, as recommended by the Planning Commission
March 24, 2015 Mendota Heights Planning Commission Meeting Page 7