Adopt Resolution 19-126 Approving a Home Occupation Permit for a Yoga Studio at 14941 Juniper Ridge Drive NW (Project No. 19-115); Case of Wendy Gutknecht

On April 22, 2019, the City of Ramsey received an application from Wendy and Michael Gutknecht, (the “Applicant”) requesting a home occupation permit to operate a yoga studio (the “Home Occupation”) on the property generally known as 14941 Juniper Ridge Drive NW and legally described as Lot 7, Block 4, Rum Acre Estates, Anoka County, Minnesota (the “Subject Property").

For the June 6 Planning Commission, notifications of this proposal were sent via Standard US Mail to Property Owners within 350 feet of the Subject Property, as reflected by Anoka County Property Records. A notice was also published in the Anoka Union Herald, the City's official newspaper. The Public Hearing was held on June 6, 2019.

Notifications are not required and not provided for this City Council Case. 

General Background Information
The Subject Property is located along the Rum River, in the southeastern portion of the City of Ramsey. The Subject Property is located near a cul-de-sac on a standard residential street. The Subject Property is zoned R-1 (MUSA) and is 1.01 acres in size. The surrounding parcels are all zoned R-1 (MUSA). The Subject Property has ready access to both Alpine Drive NW and Sunwood Drive NW. The Subject Property is located within the Wild and Scenic Overlay District.

The Applicant is a certified yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance since 2018 and is currently CPR First Aid certified.

Summary of Requests
 

Request	Staff Recommendation
5:30 am - 7:00 pm hours of operation	7:00 am - 7:00 pm
3 classes per day	2 classes per day
8 students per class	4 students per class

The Planning Commission recommends these changes in order to keep the number of vehicle trips under 8 round-trips per day, and to ensure that there is adequate parking onsite. Staff believes that the Applicant can get approximately 2 cars on the parking pad next to the garage and up to 4 on the driveway at one time. Staff does not believe that 8 student vehicles, plus personal vehicles, could adequately park onsite.

Staff does believe there will be adequate off-street parking for the homeowner as the attached garage allows for 4 cars to be parked comfortably (2 cars deep and 2 cars wide). There is also a 30x30 detached garage onsite that can accommodate personal storage. This garage does not have a driveway attached to it, so it would not provide daily parking space. In the event that the yoga studio expands in capacity, the Applicant has indicated that they will seek to move to a commercial space.

Planning Commission
The Planning Commission met on June 6, 2019 and recommended approval of the permit. One neighbor sent in a letter asking for specific items to be addressed, and Staff talked to them prior to the meeting. One neighbor attended the meeting and requested a "Kids at Play" sign in the neighborhood. Staff passed the request to Public Works, and learned that there are not approved signs with this wording available for City use. Staff will work with individual property owners to explain the sign regulations if they want private signs indicating "Kids at Play." From the neighbor comments (2), it seems the main concern is traffic generation and parking. Staff has limited the number of students at one time and prohibited street parking related to the business use.

The Applicant is responsible for all costs related to this request.

The Planning Commission recommended approving a home occupation permit for a yoga studio on the Subject Property.

Motion to Adopt Resolution #19-126 Approving a Home Occupation Permit to operate a Yoga Studio at 14941 Juniper Ridge Drive NW.