PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Sketch Plan and Zoning Amendment for a Proposed Lot Combination; Case of ACE Solid Waste, Inc.

The City has received an Application for a Sketch Plan and Zoning Amendment related to two parcels owned by ACE Solid Waste, Inc.  The two properties include 6601 McKinley Street (ACE's headquarters) and 14050 Basalt Street (together referred to as the "Subject Properties").  While no site improvements are proposed at this time, ACE Solid Waste is anticipating a potential future expansion of their transfer station building, which would extend across an existing property boundary between the Subject Properties, and additional parking/storage area, prompting the requested actions.

City Staff attempted to notify all property owners within 700 feet of the Subject Property of the request via U.S. mail and published a notice of public hearing in the Anoka Union Herald, the City's official newspaper.

Sketch Plan
The Subject Properties combined are just over ten (10) acres in size.  The existing transfer station building is located in the northwest corner of ACE's main campus (6601 McKinley Street NW) and any expansion of that building would be to the north, which would cross the existing property boundary separating the Subject Properties.  The proposed plat would simply eliminate the boundary line between the two lots, creating one larger parcel.  There are no proposed site improvements associated with this request at this time.

Basalt Street is currently a dirt/gravel road south of 141st Ave.  Any future improvements to the northern portion of the Subject Properties would have to gain access from 141st Street, unless the segment of Basalt Street were brought up to current standards (pavement, curb/gutter).  This had been conveyed to ACE when City Staff met with them in 2017 to discuss their potential future improvements.

There are some existing drainage and utility easements and a permanent street easement encumbering 14050 Basalt Street.  The Final Plat will need to include drainage and utility easements dedicated to the public around the perimeter of the Subject Properties and likely around the two existing stormwater ponds as well (pending input from Engineering Department).  The Final Plat should also dedicate public road right-of-way in lieu of the permanent street easement.  Both of these are addressed in the Staff Review Letter.

Zoning Amendment
The Subject Properties currently have a split zoning.   14050 Basalt Street is zoned E-1 Employment while 6601 McKinley Street is zoned E-2 Employment.  ACE is requesting a Zoning Amendment to rezone the Basalt St property to E-2 Employment to establish a single, uniform zoning designation for the newly created parcel.

All costs associated with this request are the Applicant's responsibility.

Staff recommends approval of the Sketch Plan and Zoning Amendment, contingent upon compliance with the Staff Review Letter.

Provide general feedback to the Applicant regarding the Sketch Plan.

-and-

Motion to recommend City Council adopt Ordinance #18-07 rezoning 14050 Basalt Street to E-2 Employment District.