03-22-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mobility. In addition, the signs that currently exist for the other tenants of the building have been removed in the site plans shown. City staff has spoken with the applicant and they are aware of the requirement in the PUD District for a Comprehensive Sign Plan. Due to timing of their submittal they did not have time to prepare all of the necessary documents for a Master Sign Plan and have stated they will pursue at a later date. The applicant understands that they will have to go through that process prior to any alterations to the existing signage. It’s worth mentioning that one of the considerations within the PUD zoning is that the City tries to achieve the highest quality product as part of the approval. In the City’s Architectural Guidelines for this area, freestanding signs like what current exists on the property would no longer be allowed. The City’s recommendation now calls for “monument” type signage that complements the building design. In this zoning district when the opportunity presents itself, the City has negotiated with Property Owners to upgrade the existing freestanding sign. This has been with the addition of a brick base and/or wrapping of the metal posts with matching materials. To be consistent with the desire to upgrade the area, city staff has encouraged the applicant, should they move forward with this location, to make site improvements to the existing freestanding sign that meet the intentions of the Architectural Guidelines for the Rice Street/Little Canada Road corridor or replace it entirely with a monument style. Parking. The parking site plan submitted by Cummings Mobility shows the ability to provide for up to 80 parking spaces on the property. The dimensions of the stalls shown are 9’x19’ with and in the front of the building there is 27’ of aisle width. Our code requires 9’x20’ with a minimum aisle width of 24’. This will not impact their design or number of stalls, but rather is just a modification in the measurements. The current parking lot is not striped, but does have some curbing. The applicant has expressed that he intends to repave the entire lot because of the poor shape of the existing lot. Staff has discussed with the applicant that there are plans for the City to be reviewing our required parking standards later this year. In addition, it may be possible to create a different access drive aisle between this property, Market Place Shopping Center, and the printing business to the east that has a driveway easement from 2940 Rice Street to access their property. Staff believes 80 parking spaces would more than accommodate the uses proposed for this site. Three of the tenants already occupy the building and ample parking is available during the day. City ordinance for off-street parking states that should a structure containing two or more types of uses, each use shall be calculated separately for determining the total off-street parking spaces required. Cummings Mobility is not a typical car dealer or repair shop that will draw in customer traffic. Most of their traffic will be scheduled or coordinated with their clientele. City code also states that “Other Uses” beyond those specifically mentioned in the off- street parking provision, can have consideration given for the number of spaces required. 903.050.H.29 - Other Uses. Other uses not specifically mentioned herein shall be determined on an individual basis by the City Council. Factors to be considered in such determinations shall include (without limitation) size of building, type of use, number of employees, expected volume and turnover of customer traffic and expected frequency and number of delivery or service vehicles. If city staff used the provision in the city code for Auto Repair and Sales then this use would be required to establish 76 spaces (that’s not factoring in the other three tenants). It is staff’s opinion that Cummings Mobility will have a lower volume of customer traffic and will not have the number of employees as a typical auto related business. As a result, it seems reasonable that this use fall under the classification for “other uses”. Again, city staff believes this site will have sufficient off-street