Title
Final Adoption - An ordinance amending Chapters 65 and 66 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code regarding currency exchanges and alternative financial establishments. (Old No. 10-1118)
Body
WHEREAS, City Council Resolution 09-1349, adopted December 9, 2009, and City Council Ordinance 09-1386, adopted January 13, 2010, enacted a moratorium on the establishment of any new currency exchanges or industrial loan and thrifts in the City based upon the Councils findings and rationale for the moratorium: that businesses that cash negotiable instruments for a fee are being established within existing businesses, including pawn shops, and are therefore locating where they would not otherwise be permitted by the City as a conditional or permitted use; that these new businesses have been established and operated where they would not otherwise be permitted under the Citys present zoning regulations under the auspices of a certificate of authorization issued by the State of Minnesota to operate a business known as an industrial loan and thrift; that these certificates of authorization are being used as a subterfuge to establish what are, in fact, currency exchanges; that the state-issued certificates further permit these businesses to make secured and unsecured consumer loans, including pay day loans; that businesses established in this manner are contrary to the zoning code and detrimental to the public health, welfare, and safety; and that the Citys zoning regulations for these types of businesses and pawn shops are not coordinated; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 09-1349 and Ordinance 09-1386 directed the Saint Paul Planning and Economic Development (PED) department to conduct a study of the effectiveness of current zoning regulations regarding these uses before December 8, 2010 when the moratorium is set to expire; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing before the City Council having been conducted on October 20, 2010, at which all interested parties were given an opportunity to b...
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