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<br />uses including professional offices, administrative offices, studios and similar uses as those <br />currently being used. The city's goal is to have the zoning be compatible with the existing <br />development and protect residential areas from intrusions that can develop with industrial <br />growth. Upon the completion of the rezoning no existing use would be forced to change. All <br />uses including those which would not be a permitted use under the new zoning would be <br />grandfathered and subject to the non-conforming provisions in chapter 1165. She believes <br />that the rezoning will have a positive impact on the proposed area and will protect the <br />residential properties and character of the area while still allowing businesses to operate and <br />thrive and provide buffers for single family neighborhoods. <br />Mr. Lasko asked what is allowed under the current limited industrial use. Ms. Wenger <br />reviewed that under the current zoning outdoor storage facilities, manufacturing and <br />production facilities and other warehouse type businesses are allowed and residential homes <br />are prohibited. <br />Mr. O'Malley provided some zoning history. The first zoning case before the United States <br />Supreme Court was Euclid vs. Ambler Realty in 1926. At that time the courts upheld that a <br />city had a right to establish comprehensive zoning plans on a city wide basis. Under the law <br />so long as a rezoning does not deprive a property owner of all economically feasible uses of <br />the property then the zoning generally withstands the scrutiny under the Sth amendment <br />takings analysis. Under the city charter the Planning & Design Commission has the role to <br />provide recommendations to City Council pertaining to matters of rezoning. The City <br />Charter requires the Planning & Design Commission to review and maintain the Master Plan <br />and to work with City Council to bring about the Master Plan recommendations. <br />Mr. Lasko asked if there were any developers or owners who have submitted development <br />plans or proposals for development which has caused this rezoning. Ms. Wenger said that <br />there was no development plans pending; the issue of rezoning the area was first looked at in <br />1992 and again in 2005 during the Master Plan updates. The request to rezone the area to <br />more of a residential office use is based on recommendations made in the Master Plan. <br />Neither she nor anyone in her department has received any form of development plans for <br />any of the parcels in question. Mr. O'Malley clarified that the city is currently in litigation <br />with the Elm Street property owners who requested a rezoning from limited industry to <br />permit a proposed cluster development on one of the parcels recommended for rezoning. <br />However this recommendation to rezone properties in this area is not in response to the law <br />suit nor is it designed to accommodate the owners. <br />Mr. Lasko asked what if any negative impacts could the rezoning create. Ms. Wenger <br />believed that with any rezoning the greatest concern is the creation of non-conforming <br />buildings, structures or uses. However the ordinance was designed to minimize the <br />occurrences of non-conforming structures and that was accomplished through compromising <br />between a pure residential district and recognizing that some office uses are inheritably <br />compatible with residential dwellings. Therefore allowing some office type uses ensures that <br />the existing uses of the area can continue to exist. In some incidents there could be lot lines <br />or setbacks which are not met or some uses which are not compatible and would then be <br />governed under non-conforming buildings and or structures chapter of the zoning codes. <br />Mr. Lasko asked both the Planning Director and the Assistant Law Director their opinions as <br />to whether or not the ordinance should receive a favorable recommendation from the <br />Commission. Ms. Wenger said she recommended the commission recommend City Council <br />2