AgdaPkt 2002-09-23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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· What type of business is the appellantproposing? The appellant is proposing to sell products for professional use only such as shears and razors for cutting, hair color, permanent waves, and strengtheners. The products require professional training for safe usage, and as such ara not for sale to unlicensed people. Some of the products may be then be resold to customers. In addition to the sales, the applicant is also proposing to install a 2 foot wide display counter in the front window, and upgrading the rear facade. · Does the proposed use conform to the Intent of the CBR Zoning District? No. The CBR Zoning Distdct was established in 1991 and was designed specifically for the downtown core area. By allowing only retail activities, it attempts to keep the Downtown vital and active. As indicated in the attached City Council staff report dated 11/19/91 (when the CBP, Ordinance was approved), the purpose of the CBP, ordinance was to: · Create a central retail core by permitting many retail activities · Limit the types of uses that don't promote pedestrian activity (e.g. banks and offices) · Encourage pedestrian activity by promoting retail on the first floor of buildings · Create contiguous building frontage without major interruptions · Improve the existing character of downtown by encouraging pedestrian-scale design and minimizing blank walls and other dead spaces at the ground level · Promote creative design and architectural variety within limits established by requiring certain design standards The actual intent and purpose of the CBP, as written in the Zoning Ordinance is as follows: To strengthen the retail vitality and economic base of the downtown area, and to concentrate retail uses downtown which will serve the needs of Redwood City residents, businesses, and workers. To encourage the upgrading of building exteriors, signs, passageways, and rear entries in the district. (Section 26.1) The Zoning District does allow a myriad of retail uses including salons and barbershops. However, the proposed use will be limited to only licensed cosmetologists, and other downtown shoppers will not be able to shop on the premises. Therefore, the project does not promote pedestrian activity. Although the Zoning Ordinance does not specifically state that such retail businesses must be "open to the public", it is clear from the intent of the ordinance that uses should "encourage pedestrian activity' and the CBR ordinance tries to Ulimit the types of uses that don't promote pedestrian activity". The proposed use does not promote pedestrian activity as only licensed cosmetologists are able to shop in the store and no one else. The CBR Zoning District was designed to revitalize the downtown so that it provides retail uses for afl P,edwood City workers, residents, and businesses. It is supposed to establish land uses that would allow anyone to walk through the door of the business. The proposed business by limiting customers only to licensed cosmetologists does not benefit the downtown. Them am other zoning districts where such a use would be appropriate. For example, the "CG" (General Commercial) Zoning District provides a district for commercial uses "which do not specialize in serving the pedestrian shopper.....". Others include the "IP" (Industrial Park) and "IR" (Industrial Restricted) Zoning Districts. · Doestheproposedusecomplywiththedefinitionof"retail"useasoutlinedintheZoning Ordinance? No. According to the Zoning Ordinance (Definitions) a retail business is defined as the