09-28-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Finally, the property in question falls within the district outlined by the City’s Architectural Guidelines, and requires the application of those guidelines as a part of the rehabilitation of the site and building. A review of the building improvements in this regard is provided in the relevant portion of this report. Project Description. The applicants propose to combine the underlying parcels, extensively remodel the existing fitness building, add a screened open storage enclosure along the east side of the property (adjacent to the Cobblestone Village townhomes), and add a landscaped display area along the front (south) side of the property adjacent to Minnesota Avenue. Building size and use. The building of approximately 38,600 square feet is proposed to be remodeled to accommodate uses including retail service, reception, showroom, and administrative or office space of approximately 18,000 square feet (about 45% of the floor space). Shop and related space will occupy about 13,000 square feet, with the remaining area in the building utilized for storage. Staff Comment: The use of the site for this purpose requires the PUD zoning, given the industrial nature of the goods. The City has discussed the need to ensure that the site appears to look and function like a commercial facility to consider its compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan objectives. The “retail” and office aspects of the use, and the design of the site and building to emphasize this aspect of the proposal, are an important part of meeting those objectives. Outdoor storage. The site plan proposes an outdoor storage area along the east side of the property of approximately 45,000 square feet, a portion of which is shown to striped as a parking area for approximately 26 spaces, in addition to the storage area. The striped parking covers about 9,000 square feet of the enclosed area. Altogether, the enclosed area comprises about 55,000 square feet, although some of that will most likely be devoted to circulation space, particularly along the north and east building walls. The applicants have indicated that this enclosed area will be utilized for storage of construction equipment for sale to their customers, and it will not likely be open as a sales area. The area is to be enclosed with a Metal screen fence installed between brick piers adjacent to the parking lot. It appears that the bulk of the fence line to the north and east would be cyclone fence installed on metal posts. Staff Comment: Along with the construction material aspect of the facility, the outdoor storage use is the element of the plan contributing most significantly to the industrial nature. The applicants have proposed an attractive screen for this area from the public portions of the site along the south. As noted in the landscape comments below, the applicants are relying on existing vegetation on the adjoining property to the east to screen that view of the storage. No screening is proposed to the north, which is primarily bordered by the school property. The City does not permit outdoor storage in other commercial zoning districts. The PUD district’s greatest degree of flexibility is being sought to allow the introduction of this use in this location.