Title
RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION REGARDING A LAND USE SUPERVISOR INTERPRETATION OF SECTION 50-15.6.E.2 AS IT APPLIES TO A POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF EXISTING HOTEL AT 1003 MINNESOTA AVENUE (TERRY ANDERSON)
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CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the city council finds as follows:
(a) On February 9, 2015, in response to an inquiry about a potential expansion to the subject property at 1003 Minnesota Avenue, the City of Duluth Land Use Supervisor determined that any development or expansion on the site must meet all Unified Development Chapter (UDC) requirements, including the MU-W zone district standards regarding maximum building width of 200' with a 50' separation between buildings; and
(b) At its April 14, 2015 regular meeting, the planning commission upheld this interpretation of the UDC; and
(c) The standards of the MU-W zone district serve to protect public views to the waterfront from the closest landward public street running approximately parallel to the water, which in this case is a view of the marina and harbor from Minnesota Avenue; and
(d) According to Section 50-7.1 of the City Code, no building or structure shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed, moved, structurally altered, or used ... except in accordance of all applicable provisions of the zoning regulations; and
(e) The fact that a previous garage existed on the site that partially obscured public views of the water is not germaine to current desire to expand the hotel, as the garage was removed during the 2012 construction, and once a structure is removed, all subsequent development must conform to the zoning regulations; and
(f) The existing hotel is approximately 184' from the obstruction of the existing marina maintenance building and thus would be allowed to expand an additional 16'; and
(g) The city council of the city of Duluth agrees that any expansion or reconstruction on this site shall allow for public views of the marina ...
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