HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 1566EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO.1566
AN INTERIM ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE PLANNING
PROCESS AND THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF CITY RESIDENTS; AND
REGULATING SMOKE SHOPS IN ALL COMII~RCLAI, DISTRICTS
The City of Columbia Heights does ordain:
Section l: On May 29, 2001, the City of Columbia Heights adopted Ordinance 1428, which is an
ordinance relating to and establishing a Zoning and Development plan and revised Zoning Map for the
City of Columbia Heights; and,
Section 2: Ordinance 1428 and subsequent amendments is officially known as the Columbia Heights
Zoning and Development Ordinance; and,
Section 3: The Columbia Heights Zoning and Development Ordinance divides the City into five
commercial districts, three business districts, and two industrial districts, one mixed development district;
and,
Section 4: The three commercial districts are further classified in the Columbia Heights Zoning and
Development Ordinance as LB, Limited Business District, GB, General Business District, and CBD,
Central Business District; and,
Section 5: To date, the City of Columbia Heights has three licensed smoke shops, one pending
application, and three other applications for a smoke shop distributed but not yet formally applied for.
This equals a potential of seven smoke shops in the City of Columbia Heights' commercial corridor, with
the possibility of additional stores based on existing vacancies; and,
Section 6: The City Council determines it is necessary to undertake a land use study to determine the
impact of a high concentration of smoke shops on the economic vitality of the city, including specifically
defining what a smoke shop is, where the smoke shops may be located throughout the City, how close
smoke shops uses may be from one another, and whether licensing requirements should be altered
specifically for smoke shops; and,
Section 7: The Columbia Heights City Council finds it necessary and appropriate to prohibit the
expansion of existing smoke shops and the introduction of new smoke shops within the City, while the
information is gathered regarding smoke shops so as to obtain an accurate depiction of the effects such
uses have in Columbia Heights; and,
Section 8: Minnesota Statues, Section 462.355, Subd. 4 allows the City of Columbia Heights to adopt
this Interim Ordinance to protect the planning process. The City Council finds that adoption of this
Interim Ordinance will protect the planning process and the health, safety and welfare of its citizens while
the study provided for in this Ordinance is being conducted; and,
Section 9: The Columbia Heights City Council hereby imposes a moratorium on smoke shops in the LB,
Limited Business District, GB, General Business District, and CBD, Central Business District effective
immediately for the duration of six months, terminating on November 26, 2009, and recognizing said
time period may be shortened by an ordinance adopted by the City Council.
Section 10: Activities affected by this moratorium include the establishment of smoke shops and the
expansion of existing smoke shops within the LB, GB and CBD Commercial Districts in the City of
Columbia Heights for the purpose of protecting the planning process pending completion.
Section 11: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect immediately.
Date of Passage: May 26, 2009
Offered by: Williams
Seconded by: Nawrocki
Roll Call: Ayes: Peterson, Williams, Nawrocki,lr
Attest
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```Patricia Muscovitz, CMC
City Clerk