Consider Stormwater Utility Rate Change for 14600 Nowthen Boulevard

The property at 14600 Nowthen Boulevard was constructed in 1979 as a nursery sales center, and was used as an auto sales office or auto repair shop in subsequent years.  It was being used as a church when the stormwater utility was established in 2000.  The stormwater utility rate was set at that time based on the current land use.

There were several land use applications in the property file with a requirement to pave the parking area on site, which improvement never occurred.

The property owner came to the Mayor's Town Hall meeting on January 9, 2012 and requested that the stormwater utility rating be changed to residential.  Staff verified that the county is taxing the property as non-homestead residential.

Staff visited the site on January 10, 2012, and viewed only a couple of sets of vehicle tracks in the snow around the building.  The snow is not packed as would be expected if there were multiple vehicles using the site.  The majority of the site is covered by grass.  Staff used aerial photos and looked at the impervious cover (house, parking, walks) on several residential properties adjacent to the site.  The average impervious cover is 21%, and the impervious cover for this parcel is 19%.

Staff recommends changing the stormwater utility rate for 14600 Nowthen Boulevard from commercial to residential.  The rate will be re-evaluated in the future if the property is redeveloped and/or the use changes.  Approving this change would revise the quarterly charge on this property from $105.59 to $9.55.

Motion to recommend the City Council approve the Stormwater Utility Rate change from commercial to 1 residential unit for 14600 Nowthen Boulevard.