HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning report
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PLANNING REPORT
CASE NUMBER: 2012-0602
DATE: June 5, 2012
TO: Columbia Heights Planning Commission
APPLICANT: City of Columbia Heights
LOCATION: City Wide
REQUEST: Zoning Amendment for Secondhand Stores
PREPARED BY: Jeff Sargent, City Planner
INTRODUCTION
Staff recently received a request to place a secondhand store in the City. The current
ordinance allows these types of uses as Conditional Uses as long as they are not located
within 3,000 feet from another secondhand/consignment store, pawnshop, currency
exchange or precious metal dealership. Because of this regulation, staff had to inform the
business that they would not be able to locate in the building that they desired.
Being that there already exists enough uses along Central Avenue that trigger the 3,000-
foot distance requirement, no more of these similar-type uses would be able to locate
along Central Avenue. The initial inquiry regarding the proposed secondhand store
enabled staff to further study the Zoning Code to determine the types of stores that would
no longer be allowed along Central Avenue. Stores such as Half Price Books, Play it
Again Sports, Plato’s Closet, Second Swing and Once Upon a Child would not be allowed
along Central Avenue unless an existing use triggering the 3,000-foot requirement were to
leave. The study of the Zoning Code also revealed that antique stores would be classified
as secondhand stores, and would fall into the 3,000 distance requirement as well.
At this time, Staff proposes an ordinance amendment that would allow for secondhand
stores and consignment stores along Central Avenue to not have to comply with the 3,000-
foot requirement. Staff noticed that the major difference between the above-listed
secondhand stores that would no longer be allowed on Central Avenue, and the current
secondhand stores in Columbia Heights (namely, Unique Thrift and Savers), is that the
above-listed stores do not rely on donations to supply the majority of their merchandise.
Most often, these types of stores will purchase the used merchandise from someone, and
only if the merchandise is in good repair. Taking this into consideration, staff proposes to
City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission June 5, 2012
City of Columbia Heights, Secondhand Stores Case # 2012-0602
differentiate between “secondhand store” and “thrift store”, with the difference being the
percentage of donations generally accepted by each type of business.
The proposed changes to the Zoning Code include the addition of definitions for antique
store, consignment store, currency exchange, secondhand store and thrift store:
ANTIQUE. Work of art, furniture, decorative objects made at an earlier period at
least 30+ years old.
ANTIQUE STORE. A retail establishment with more than fifty percent (50%) of its
merchandise being sold as antiques.
CONSIGNMENT STORE. A retail establishment where more than fifty percent
(50%) of the goods are placed on consignment. Consignment is the art of placing goods in
the hands of another, while still retaining ownership, until the goods are sold.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE. Any business or person except a bank, trust company,
savings bank, savings and loans association or credit union that is engaged in the
business of cashing checks, drafts, money orders, or traveler’s checks for a fee.
SECONDHAND STORE. A retail establishment that sells previously used
merchandise, more than thirty percent (30%) of which is not donated, such as clothing,
furniture, appliances, household goods, sporting goods, books, recreational equipment,
toys or other merchandise not considered to be antique, that is in good repair or has been
restored or reconditioned to a clean and useable condition. This definition excludes
antique stores, pawnshops, thrift stores, consignment stores and precious metal
dealerships.
THRIFT STORE. A retail establishment that derives more than thirty percent (30%)
of its sales from donated, previously used merchandise such as clothing, furniture,
appliances, household goods, sporting goods, books, recreational equipment, toys or other
merchandise not considered to be antique.
Other changes include allowing antique stores as permitted uses in the GB, General
Business District and the CBD, Central Business District, and allowing secondhand stores,
without the 3,000-foot separation requirement, as a Conditional Use in the GB, General
Business District and the CBD, Central Business District.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to preserve and enhance the existing
viable commercial areas within the community, and to promote reinvestment in properties
by the commercial and industrial sectors. Allowing secondhand stores without the 3,000-
foot separation requirement would strengthen the viable commercial areas in the City.
Page
2
City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission June 5, 2012
City of Columbia Heights, Secondhand Stores Case # 2012-0602
FINDINGS OF FACT
Section 9.104 (F) of the Columbia Heights zoning code requires that the City Council make
each of the following four findings before approving a zoning amendment:
1. The amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to preserve and enhance the
existing viable commercial areas within the community, and to promote
reinvestment in properties by the commercial and industrial sectors. Allowing
secondhand stores without the 3,000-foot separation requirement would
strengthen the viable commercial areas in the City.
2. The amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the benefit of a
single property owner.
The proposed amendment would apply to all commercial districts throughout the
City.
3. Where the amendment is to change the zoning classification of a particular
property, the existing use of the property and the zoning classification of
property within the general area of the property in question are compatible with
the proposed zoning classification.
The amendment would not change the zoning classification of a particular property.
4. Where the amendment is to change the zoning classification of a particular
property, there has been a change in the character or trend of development in
the general area of the property in question, which has taken place since such
property was placed in the current zoning classification.
The amendment would not change the zoning classification of a particular property.
RECOMMENDATION
Motion:
That the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the
proposed zoning amendment.
Attachments
Draft zoning ordinance
Page
3
City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission June 5, 2012
City of Columbia Heights, Secondhand Stores Case # 2012-0602
Page
4