02-15-2018 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 15, 2018 amenities such as a dining room, craft room, salon, library/video room, and gathering spaces in both wings of the building. The Associate Planner explained that the site is 1.73 acres consisting of two properties that are zoned Planned Unit Development, PUD. She noted that the area to the north is also zoned PUD and is a mix of commercial and residential, and the area to the south is zoned R-1, Single Family Residential. She stated that the underlying base use for this proposal would be consistent with the R-3, High Density Residential, but as a PUD, the project will be reviewed as to whether it could result in a higher quality project above what the base zoning would require. She reported that the applicant is proposing LP smart siding with stone accents that wrap around all of the building. She noted that there are several other design elements that keep the building look consistent with the area. The Associate Planner stated that with a PUD there is flexibility for the setback requirements, but the site plan shown is consistent with the previous townhome development, and staff is supportive of the building layout as proposed. She reported that 21 off-street parking spaces are shown on the plan, and the applicant has indicated there will be three to five employees and one to three visitors a day, which equates to a need for four to eight parking spaces used. She noted that none of the residents who live here will have vehicles. The Associate Planner stated that the applicant is requesting to be allowed signage in excess of what is allowed by code, and is proposing a free standing sign on Rice Street, along with two wall signs on the west and north elevations, with a sign area greater than 35 square feet. She explained that the applicant has indicated that although they are a residential property, they also have a commercial component and need to attract residents due to turnover; therefore they believe there is a higher need for a sign along Rice Street. The R-3 District signage regulations would allow one sign on the property that is no larger than 35 square feet. The Associate Planner stated that staff requests the applicant remove the wall sign on the west elevation due to the larger sign area on the monument sign, and resubmit a site plan showing this sign is setback a minimum of five feet from the property line. She noted that staff also requests more details for the sign proposed on the north elevation. The Associate Planner reviewed the submitted lighting plan and stated that staff does not feel there will be any issues with glare on the rear of the building that would affect the adjacent neighbors. She reported that when reviewing the landscape plan, staff took into consideration the concerns from the adjacent Iona Lane neighbors during the previous townhome review. She stated that staff feels there is adequate screening for the neighbors on Iona Lane, but she noted that it will be difficult to preserve the existing trees on the property these two sites due to the grading -2-