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CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PLANNING REPORT
CASE NUMBER: 2008-0803
DATE: August 6, 2008
TO: Columbia Heights Planning Commission
APPLICANT: City of Columbia Heights
LOCATION: City Wide
REQUEST: Zoning Amendment for Garage Sales
PREPARED BY: Jeff Sargent, City Planner
INTRODUCTION
The City of Columbia Heights has received some concerns regarding the number of
garage sales that are permitted per property per calendar year. The current zoning codes
states, “residential garage sales shall be limited to a total of 12 days of operation per
calendar year at any residential location”. Staff has realized that this would be very
difficult to enforce, and recommends amending the zoning code to restrict the number of
garage sale events per calendar year.
An article has recently been written in the paper (attached), listing the number of garage
sale events allowed in some cities. Staff conducted some research and found regulations
for other cities not mentioned in the article. They are:
1. Edina: 1 per year 6. New Hope: 3 per year
2. Minneapolis: 2 per year 7. Maple Grove: 4 per year
3. Maplewood: 2 per year 8. Bloomington: 4 per year
4. St. Louis Park: 2 per year 9. Crystal: 4 per year
5. Richfield: 3 per year
At this time, staff recommends amending the zoning code to allow for no more than two (2)
garage sales per property per calendar year, with the duration of each garage sale not to
exceed three (3) consecutive days. The purpose of this amendment is for the city to have
an easier way to measure the number of garage sales conducted on a property. The intent
is that the enforcement of this provision would only occur upon complaints being made
against the property operating the garage sale.
City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission August 6, 2008
City of Columbia Heights, Garage Sales Case # 2008-0803
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to promote and preserve the single-family
housing stock as the community’s strongest asset. By amending the zoning ordinance to
allow no more than two garage sales per property per calendar year, the city would be
allowing activities normally conducted in residential neighborhoods, while ensuring that
residents do not turn garage sale events into commercial activities. The ordinance change
would also preserve the housing stock by making sure that neighborhoods remain
uncluttered with constant garage sale traffic.
ZONING ORDINANCE
The current zoning codes states, “residential garage sales shall be limited to a total of 12
days of operation per calendar year at any residential location”. Staff has realized that this
would be very difficult to enforce, and recommends amending the zoning code to restrict
the number of garage sale events per calendar year. The proposed change would restrict
the number of garage sales per calendar year to two.
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.
The amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, as it would help
preserve the city’s single-family housing stock as its strongest asset.
2. The amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the benefit of a
single property owner.
The proposed amendment would affect the entire city and would ensure that
activities conducted in residential neighborhoods are those normally found in such
zoning districts. The amendment would also ensure that properties would not be
able to turn garage sale events into commercially related activities.
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
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City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission August 6, 2008
City of Columbia Heights, Garage Sales Case # 2008-0803
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
Staff recommends amending the zoning code to allow for no more than two (2) garage
sales per property per calendar year, with the duration of each garage sale not to exceed
three (3) consecutive days. The purpose of this amendment is for the city to have an
easier way to measure the number of garage sales conducted on a property. The intent is
that the enforcement of this provision would only occur upon complaints being made
against the property operating the garage sale.
Motion: That the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the
proposed zoning amendment, requiring that no more than two (2) garage sales per
property per calendar year, with the duration of each garage sale not to exceed three (3)
consecutive days.
Attachments
Draft zoning ordinance
Garage Sale Article
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