PZ 05/08/2013 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Commission/ Local Planning Agency May 8, 2013 Page 4 stored and displayed outside. He said the prohibition against the outdoor display of Ding Bike's products represents an unnecessary and undue hardship on them and the community at large. Mr. Lefkowitz requested the minimum variance that will make possible the reasonable use of the land, building or structure as stated in criteria number 5 of the staff report. He said Ding Bikes is not requesting the full 10' of visibility that is lost due to the adjacent business. He said Ding Bikes is requesting 8' from the front window of their building. He said the display area is 8' by 18' area which is the minimum that will satisfy the reasonable use of their building. Mr. Lefkowitz said that staff made a recommendation that Ding Bikes should store and display its goods on the south side of the building behind an erected fence. He said staffs recommendation ignores the unnecessary and undue hardship imposed that all business shall be conducted within an enclosed building. He said the Code enacts a hardship on Ding Bikes due to lack of storefront visibility caused by the 53' setback. In summary Mr. Lefkowitz said that lack of storefront visibility results in less store traffic, less sales revenue and less profitability and as such represents an undue hardship. He said the Code enacts hardship on Ding Bikes because of the unreasonable precedent set by the City which permits other businesses to store and display their goods in a visible fashion on the outside of their buildings. He said a practice Ding Bikes expected to pursue upon the signing the lease. Mr. Lefkowitz said Ding Bikes provides a valuable community service by marketing products which benefit senior and individuals with disabilities and also providing alternative transportation. In response to the Commission's question regarding the applicant researching other locations with a smaller setback, Mr. Lefkowski said he did not look at other buildings because he thought he could display his bikes in front of his business. He said he looked at Home Depot, Black's Automotive and other businesses in the area. He said it is a very common practice in the bicycle industry to display goods in front of the store. Mr. Howard Lefkowski said that they did look at one other location in the City near Old Time Pottery but decided against it due to the visibility due to the depth of that site. In response to the Commission's question regarding signage, Mr. Lefkowski said they would love to have more signage; however, the Code limits the amount of signage allowed on the site. He said there is a small monument sign on the site.