2001-47 GRANTING SPECIAL PERMIT - ANIMAL SHELTER - 2100 BLOCK EAST MOUND ROAD

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ECONOMIC AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM #01-66 June 07, 2001 TO: Mayor Terry M. Howley and City Council Members FROM: Steve G 'ty Manager A. J. Krieger istant City Manager Steve Van S e uyse, Pl ' g M � Dane C. Bragg, Planner%� �� SUBJECT: Revised Special Use Pernut for Government Use - Macon County Animal Shelter SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Macon County has agreed to revise the plan for the proposed Macon County Animal Shelter to show access to the site from Mound Road only. Staff recommends approval of the petition as submitted, subject to the following conditions: 1. The plans shall be revised to show access to the site from Mound Road. 2. No access to the site from Carolyn Avenue shall be permitted. BACKGROUND: The petitioner proposes to construct an 18,000 square foot shelter building to house up to 6Q cats and 124 dogs. The proposed building would also include educational facilities for public use. The proposed building would be located a minimum of 2Q0 feet from the easterly property boundary. The building would be located at least 200 to 500 feet from all other boundaries. The proposed shelter would operate on the site 24 hours per day. The City Council reviewed thi.s petition in March after recommendation for approval from the Plan Commission. The original petition showed the only access to the property from Carolyn Avenue, which is a township road in unincorporated Macon County. Staff and the Plan Commission had recommended approval of the Special Use Pernut subject to the condition that Carolyn Avenue would be widened and improved to minimum City standards. However, residents of Carolyn Avenue attended both the Plan Commission and City Council meetings and voiced strong objection to the use of Carolyn for access to the site. The Council tabled the request pending further negotiation regarding the access. The County has agreed to change the access to Mound Road and will not use Carolyn for access. This will be a much more expensive alternative, since it will require crossing a creek and meeting floodplain requirements. However, in face of the opposition to the Carolyn access, the County decided that the Mound Road access was their only option. ; Staff recommends approval of the revised project, wlule recognizing that Mound Road is not the County's preferred access. The County views Carolyn access as more desirable from a functional ' and financial aspect; however, it also recognizes the difficulties inherent with this route due to ��'� neighborhood opposition. '