Laserfiche WebLink
January 29, 2004 <br />City of Little Canada <br />Attn: Stephen Grittman <br />515 Little Canada Road East <br />Little Canada, MN 55117 <br />Dear Mr. Grittman, <br />On January 8, 2003, representatives of Mendota Homes presented plans for a new town- <br />office development to the Little Canada Planning Commission. The development is to be <br />located at the southeast corner of Market Drive and Middle Street in Little Canada. The <br />Planning Commission tabled our request for architectural review, subdivision approval, <br />and planned unit development approval. We were asked to explore an alternative layout <br />for the site that would allow the office buildings to be located closer to Market Drive and <br />Middle Street. We were also asked to provide more detailed architectural drawings. <br />Attached, you will find an alternative site layout. The two buildings originally proposed <br />have been divided into four buildings -two buildings of four units and two buildings of <br />three units. The two four-unit buildings are positioned along Market Drive and Middle <br />Street, with a single driveway entrance offMiddle Street. While this plan has some <br />desirable qualities, it only allows us to provide 63 parking spaces. Ninety-three to 98 <br />parking spaces are required. <br />We have explored other site designs, including positioning all the office units along <br />Market Drive and Middle Street and shining the parking area to the south and east sides <br />of the site. This idea, however, has significant drawbacks. The parking area is hidden <br />from view and more difficult to access. Each office unit would be required to have two <br />main entrance areas -one pedestrian-oriented entrance and one entrance from the parking <br />area. Smaller businesses that would consider purchasing atown-office unit are often not <br />equipped with the staff necessary to greet customers at two entrances. Metro Transit <br />operates a bus stop and bus lane along Market Drive. One of the buildings would be <br />positioned immediately adjacent to the bus lane. Finally, and most importantly, <br />positioning the parking area on the south and east side of the site undermines the pond <br />area to the east. We feel the pond represents a significant asset to this site and the greater <br />neighborhood. Aesthetically, positioning well-designed office units near the pond is <br />more desirable than surrounding the pond with an asphalt-parking area. <br />2345 Rice Street Suite 209, Roseville, MN !i5773 'I'Et 651-G04-09G% rnx 651-G04-09%2 <br />www.mendolahomes. com <br />