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Council grants Champion Plumbing conditional use permit to keep company vehicles at 3670 Dodd Road
Summary
The Eagan City Council approved a conditional use permit allowing Champion Plumbing to store 15 work vehicles (7 box trucks and 8 service vans) in the front yard of its property at 3670 Dodd Road, citing deterrence of theft and policing concerns despite noncompliance with several performance standards.
The Eagan City Council on June 3 approved a conditional use permit allowing Champion Plumbing to store 15 company vehicles — seven box trucks and eight service vans — in the front yard of its property at 3670 Dodd Road.
Planner Schultz told the council the property is a 2.23-acre lot in a limited industrial zone and that the applicant asked to store the vehicles in the front yard after repeated thefts and vandalism when vehicles were parked in the rear. “The applicant requests a conditional use permit to allow storage of 15 box trucks and service vans in the front yard,” Planner Schultz said in the meeting summary presented to the council.
Schultz told council staff found the application met only two of the six outdoor-storage performance standards (paved storage area and off-street parking minimums) and did not meet four standards, including fenced enclosure, location outside the front yard, and full screening from the public right of way. The Planning Commission held a May 27 public hearing and recommended approval by unanimous vote, noting police reports showing catalytic converter thefts and other suspicious activity at the property.
Police Chief Neal told the council the department’s data reflected catalytic-converter thefts and suspicious-activity calls at Champion’s property; the department had recommended moving vehicles to the front yard to increase visibility. The applicant installed security lighting and cameras after moving vehicles to the front.
Councilor Espinat moved the conditional use permit, specifying storage of seven box trucks and eight service vans on the property legally described as Lot 2 Block 1 Yorktown Industrial Park South, subject to conditions listed in the Advisory Planning Commission minutes. The motion was seconded and carried; the meeting transcript records the motion as adopted, but it does not provide a vote tally in the public record excerpt.
Planner Schultz and council members said they supported the permit primarily because placing vehicles in a well-lit, visible front-yard location appeared to have reduced theft and vandalism. The council granted the CUP subject to conditions listed in the APC minutes, which were not read in full on the council floor.
Champion Plumbing President Richard McGurren attended the meeting but had no additional comments when asked by the mayor.
