The purpose of conditional land uses is to provide for specific uses, other than those already allowed in each zoning district, which may be compatible uses in the district under certain safeguards or conditions. The conditional land use permitting process is intended to provide a detailed and comprehensive review of such proposed, compatible developments and to insure the interest of the public, the community, and the larger neighborhood area are protected. Conditional uses, once granted by the city, are sight specific and run with the land. Land use changes not specifically included in the approval of a conditional use are a violation of the city zoning ordinance.

(Ord. 03-4 (part), 2003)

No structure or land use may be used for any purpose other than those allowed within a zoning district as specified in the zoning ordinance unless either a variance has been granted (under Chapter 17.60 or 17.64 of this code) or a conditional land use permit therefor has been provided. The zoning commission may recommend and the city can require any information that will allow the decision makers to comprehensively evaluate and decide on applications for conditional uses brought before them. The zoning commission may recommend and the city can require, after consideration of the application for conditional use, those conditions under which such land use may be allowed to include but not be necessarily limited to the following:

A.

Adequate ingress and egress with concern for vehicular and pedestrian safety and convenience, traffic flow and control, and emergency access as reviewed and approved by the city public works director;

B.

Adequate off-street parking and loading with attention to vehicular and pedestrian safety and traffic flow;

C.

Conditions that control, specify, or plan for the generation of odors, noise, hours of operation, signage, or impact on the neighborhood of natural systems;

D.

Adequate landscaping, screening, mitigation of impact on adjacent property and buffering; and

E.

Compatibility with adjacent and neighborhood land uses and Laurel's GMP.

(Ord. 03-4 (part), 2003)

Twelve copies of the conditional use application form and required review fee shall be submitted to the planning board secretary thirty working days prior to the regularly scheduled zoning commission/planning board meeting at which the application will be considered. The planning board secretary shall note the time of receipt, keep one copy, send one copy to the city planner, and forward the remainder to the members of the zoning commission.

A.

The zoning commission shall publish notice of public hearing in the local newspaper at least fifteen days prior to the zoning commission meeting at which the application will be considered; adjacent property owners of record within one hundred fifty feet of the application property shall also be notified by mail by the zoning commission. The applicant or the authorized agent must attend the public hearings before both the zoning commission and the city council.

B.

The conditional use application shall include twelve copies of:

1.

Conditional use application form;

2.

Legal description of the property;

3.

Address or general location of property;

4.

Existing zoning;

5.

Specific land use being requested;

6.

Reason for request;

7.

Scaled drawings of the subject property, proposed use, existing buildings and improvements, adjacent land use, fences, etc.;

8.

Other information as may be needed by the zoning commission;

9.

Name, address and telephone number of owner of record;

10.

Name, address and telephone number of agent of owner of record;

11.

List of current property owners adjacent to and within one hundred fifty feet of the parcel for which a conditional use permit is sought;

12.

Review fee.

C.

After the public hearing for the conditional use, the zoning commission shall delay its recommendation to city council no longer than thirty working days. The city council shall publish notice of and conduct a second public hearing before the council, consider the recommendation of the zoning commission and make its decision.

(Ord. 03-4 (part), 2003)