Memo/Ordinance Change to Permit Bingo Halls•
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CITY OF HOPKINS
MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 20, 1989
TO: Zoning & Planning Commission
FROM: Nancy S. Anderson k5f
SUBJECT: Ordinance change to permit Bingo Halls
The Business Council reviewed the use of Bingo Halls in the B-
2/B-3 district. The following four items were concerns of the
Business Council:
parking
- market analysis
- downtown image
- window displays
Parking.
A big concern for the Business Council and the staff is the
parking issue. Currently only 3 hour free parking is allowed
between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Bingo sessions will be 4 hours.
Staff would not recommend that the parking time be changed from 3
hours to 4 hours. 2 -3 hour parking is conducive to high turnover
of parking stalls in a retail area. If the time limits were
changed to 4 hours, employees would tend to park in customer
areas and turnover of the stalls would not occur rapidly enough.
The current parking system would fall apart.
If bingo is allowed, the afternoon sessions should be limited to
2 1/2 hours. This allows for adequate time to move vehicles
after the session.
Unlike other businesses, a Bingo operation has a captive audience
for a set period of time. This could create a parking shortage
in the downtown. Many parking problems were eliminated with the
parking ramp. Staff does not want to see another parking problem
with a Bingo Hall downtown.
Market Analysis.
The Market Analysis completed last year suggests convenience
oriented .and destination type businesses for the downtown area.
Bingo would seem an acceptable use according to the Market Study.
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Memo
Bingo Halls
June 20, 1989
Page 2
Downtown Image.
Another issue brought up was the image that is portrayed by
Hopkins with a Bingo Hall in the downtown. This image issue can
probably be made with many uses that already exist in the
downtown area. If the Bingo Hall is run professionally it can
create a positive image for Hopkins.
The last issue that was raised at the meeting was that the
Jaycees offered to use their windows to display community
information. Staff does not recommend this. The City has been
trying to reduce and enhance the signage in the downtown area.
Filling windows in the downtown area with this information does
not fulfill this goal.
Option.
An option for the Commission to consider is to only allow Bingo
Halls in the B -3 district. Bingo Halls would then be required to
provide their own parking. This would eliminate any parking
problems that would occur in the downtown. However, the Jaycees
would not be able to use the site on Mainstreet.
This option is a reasonable option in that it would allow the use
in the City as a principal use but would limit it to zoning
districts which require adequate parking.
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Present: Nelson Berg, Chair, Harriet Ahlstrom, Ed Hanlon,
Todd Johnson, Jim Lindstrom, Greg Peterka, Chuck
Redepenning, Harry Smith, Bill Weiler
Staff: Steve Mielke, David Olson
Guests: Representatives from Hopkins Jaycees and Noontime Lions
Nelson Berg called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. at Hopkins
City Hall.
* Steve Monahan, representing the Jaycees and Lions, made a
presentation regarding their joint proposal for a bingo operation
on 10th and Mainstreet. Some of the details include:
* Capacity for 225 people
* 12 sessions per week
* 30 -40 part time jobs created
* Attracts 47 -53 age group, mainly female
* Average participant spends $21 per session
* Anticipate using municipal ramp for parking for both
afternoon and evening sessions
Steve pointed out that last year the Jaycees donated over
$500,000 to the Hopkins area. Recent state legislation will cut
into current fundraising activities so they need additional
revenue generating sources if they are going to be able to
continue to support local activities at previous levels of
funding.
The Lions are a relatively new organization anxious to work on
major projects but in need of adequate funding and the bingo
operation will provide that support.
Nelson pointed out that the City Council will have to change an
ordinance to allowbingo in a B -2 and /or B -3 zone and also
approve a conditional use permit.
Reactions from Business Council members were mixed:
Hopkins Business Council
June 15, 1989
Meeting Minutes
Appears it will bring in potential shoppers to Hopkins
Parking could be a serious problem
Not the kind of image we are looking for on Mainstreet
Better than former use
Consensus of Council appeared to be that it is not an ideal use
but it is better than former use. Since it is difficult to
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attract a major retail store this operation may, in fact, help
generate traffic to Hopkins. Central concern was parking
especially long term parking in the ramp during the afternoon
sessions.
Nelson then thanked the Council for their efforts during his term
as Chair and officially resigned to pursue his new public office
as Hopkins Mayor. Nelson had discussed his replacement with
several Business Council members and recommended Harry Smith as
Chair and Ed Hanlon as Vice- Chair. J. D. Lindstrom so moved,
Bill Wieler seconded and new leadership was approved effective
the July 6 meeting.
Steve Mielke then briefly outlined two options for upgrading
Mainstreet.
Plan A and Plan B Common Features
Both plans transition from the existing mall type layout toward a
more conventional lane and operating arrangement.
Both plans require lateral movement of vehicles to maneuver
through Mainstreet. Both plans require less lateral movement
than the existing layout with Plan A requiring the least overall
movement.
Both plans provide left turn bays at 5th, 8th and 11th. Left
turn bays are not provided at the intervening intersections.
Transitions and bays are short but are workable.
Based on an assessment of collected traffic data it appears that
both plans can permit left turn movements at each intersection
during all periods of the day. However, if traffic volumes
increase substantially, left turn prohibitions at 6th, 7th, 9th
and 10th may be required during the PM peak period.
Based upon the existing turning movement data, operation under
both plans will provide levels of service at level 'C' or better
at each intersection in the system during the PM peak period.
1. Concept A
This plan maximizes the number of parallel parking spaces along
Mainstreet, averaging 14 spaces per block. This plan has left
turn vehicle movement into the turn bay from the through movement`
lane. This plan requires lateral lane offset transitions of
approximately 8 feet within the 5th, 8th and llth Avenue
intersections. Lateral offsets are not required at 6th, 7th, 9th
and 10th Avenue intersections. Bus stops will be provided near
the intersections of 7th Avenue, 9th Avenue and 12th Avenue.
Curb lines protrude at intersections to provide protection for
parking and create room for corner street furniture, i.e.,
signals, lights, trash receptacles, etc. This design ensures