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Council denies request to paint majority of former Coon Rapids Express car wash; preserves street-facing brick requirement
Summary
Council denied a design-flexibility request that would have allowed Club Car Wash to paint the building’s street-facing brick, preserving the River Rapids overlay district material standard. Planning staff had recommended flexibility; the planning commission had recommended approval.
COON RAPIDS, Minn. — The Coon Rapids City Council voted Tuesday to deny a request from Club Car Wash to paint most of the brick on the former Coon Rapids Express car wash at 2550 Coon Rapids Boulevard, upholding the River Rapids overlay district requirement that at least 30% of the street-facing facade be an approved material such as exposed brick.
Planning staff presented the applicant’s request for design flexibility and an updated proposal that would have left 20% of the north street-facing brick unpainted; staff had forwarded findings supporting approval and the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval at its January meeting. City planner Mr. Patzner described the applicant’s revised option to keep the lower wainscoting unpainted while painting the remainder.
Council members stressed the overlay district’s intent to raise the boulevard’s visual standards. "This is the intent. This is where we're going," Council Member Geisler said, urging denial. Council Member Carlson said the building’s current brick-and-black appearance "meets the intent of our River Rapids Overlay District" and opposed flexibility. Several council members noted the flexibility tool is available but should be used sparingly for constrained sites.
Applicant Michael Lydic, representing Club Car Wash, said the company would respect a denial and that, if flexibility were denied, it would still paint permitted portions while leaving at least 30% exposed. "If the council is uncomfortable with the whole thing, we would ask that the less-visible side be allowed to be painted," Lydic said, referring to a side facade not readily visible from the main boulevard.
Motion and outcome: Council Member Geisler moved and Council Member Carlson seconded a motion to deny the requested design flexibility for painted brick; the motion carried by voice vote.
Context and next steps: The denied request affects only permitted exterior finish treatment on the site; the applicant may revise the design to meet the 30% exposed-brick standard required by the Port/River Rapids design standards or submit a new proposal in compliance with city code. Planning staff noted there is no code provision that would force the applicant to forgo painting entirely — denial would simply require the applicant to maintain at least 30% exposed approved material on the street-facing facades.
(Reporting note: quotations and attributions come from the council meeting transcript and the planning presentation; all quoted speakers are named in the speakers section.)
