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Council hears mixed progress on Tri City Exchange food‑bank site; staff warns site will not meet code without relocation or exceptions
Summary
City staff told the council that Tri City Exchange has cleaned up debris and vehicles since April but that the site still lacks an approvable site plan, stormwater detention and adequate on‑site parking for Friday distributions.
City planning and code‑enforcement staff reported to the council that the Tri City Exchange food bank site has made notable progress on visible cleanup but still lacks an approvable site plan and compliant stormwater management. Staff presented before-and-after photos showing removal of dismantled trucks, reorganization of stored materials and vehicles, and registration of one recreational vehicle; they also highlighted remaining issues including compacted graveled parking, lack of stormwater detention, and insufficient on-site queuing space for large weekly distributions.
Scott Hess, economic and community development director, told the council the property is a “needed use in a bad location” and that the site will never be large enough to handle the volume of cars and queuing the food distribution currently attracts. He said short-term cleanup items (unregistered vehicles, debris) can and should be enforced; long-term land‑use requirements — paved parking, stormwater detention, traffic control — are effectively infeasible at the current site without major investment or acquiring additional land.
Council members and staff discussed several paths forward: continue targeted code‑enforcement (fines and notices) on the remaining cleanup items, pursue a development agreement or limited exception with a sunset clause, or assist the nonprofit to find an alternate site better suited to weekly distributions. Staff suggested a mid‑term option: the food bank could conduct Friday distributions at an alternate site with adequate parking/queuing while continuing weekday site operations. Council members emphasized the importance of treating the organization fairly while enforcing code and public‑safety needs; the council also asked the city attorney to prepare options including a time‑limited development agreement or other mechanisms that preserve consistency in land‑use enforcement.
No immediate regulatory change or site plan approval was granted. Staff was directed to return with formal options and legal mechanisms that balance the organization’s community service role with public‑safety and land‑use standards.
