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St. Paul Park planning commission backs CUP standards for 'assembly' uses in B‑2 zone, sets default 200-person cap
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended that the City Council amend B‑2 zoning to treat assembly-type uses as conditional uses with standards on noise, lighting and outdoor activity, and recommended a default 200-person occupancy cap (adjustable case‑by‑case). The commission also recommended leaving hours to CUP review rather than an automatic citywide cap.
City Planner Nate Sparks told the Planning Commission Monday that commercial recreation and event centers in the city’s B‑2 highway commercial district are ‘‘assembly’’ uses and must be treated consistently to avoid federal legal exposure.
‘‘If you allow an assembly use, you have to allow a religious institution,’’ Sparks said, citing the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and concerns raised under RFRA. Sparks warned that inconsistent zoning language has led other cities into federal suits and punitive damages: ‘‘They had to pay $1,000,000 dollars,’’ he said.
Sparks recommended moving assembly-type uses into the CUP…
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