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MINUTES <br />PLANNING COMMISSION <br />APRIL 12, 2018 <br />There were no comments from the public. <br />Johnson recommended approving the simple subdivision for 2320 Preserve <br />Trail and 475 Viking Drive E., subject to the recommendations in the staff <br />report. <br />Motion and amendment seconded by Kwapick. <br />Motion carried 7 — 0. <br />CONDITIONAL USE <br />The City Planner explained that the property owner of 228 Little Canada <br />PERMIT, VARIANCE <br />Road East has submitted an application to construct a new 1,800 square <br />AND <br />foot Caribou Coffee restaurant with a drive-thru. He stated that this <br />ARCHITECTURAL <br />property is at the corner of Little Canada Road and 35E, and has been <br />REVIEW FOR A <br />vacant for several years but was previously a gas station. He explained that <br />DRIVE- <br />this request is for a conditional use permit for the drive-thru along with an <br />THRUXONVENIENC <br />architectural review, and variances for a reduced side yard setback along a <br />E RESTAURANT <br />public right-of-way and a zero lot line setback for a curb barrier. <br />(CARIBOU COFFEE) <br />AT 228 LITTLE <br />Staff's concern was for the overall traffic circulation and vehicle stacking <br />CANADA ROAD E.; <br />on the site. He noted that the City Code does not have a specific number of <br />APPLICANT: <br />required stacking spaces. Too much stacking of vehicles on this particular <br />REPRISE DESIGN & <br />site would be very problematic because of the intersection where this <br />LARRY ABDO <br />property is located. The City Planner stated that the updated site plan <br />submitted today addresses the concerns of traffic flow and stacking, and <br />has 21 parking spaces which is the minimum number of parking spaces. <br />Ramsey County has jurisdiction over Little Canada Road so they will need <br />to review the driveway location and traffic study. <br />The City Planner stated that staff has not had time to review the updated <br />plan in detail, but in general it appears to meet the code requirements. The <br />City Engineer and Ramsey County still need to review this updated plan. <br />He noted that the driveway access point was shifted to the east slightly <br />from its current location. <br />Since the amended plan is at least much closer to meeting the issues that <br />staff was concerned about, staff recommends approval subject to several <br />conditions that are listed in the staff report. <br />Larry Abdo, property owner of 228 Little Canada Road East, explained that <br />he has talked to about 15 different users about this site and none of them <br />were interested. He stated that Caribou Coffee has denied this site four <br />times in the last five years, but were purchased by a large company that has <br />a strong growth plan. He stated that they finally approved this site and he <br />is willing to do what is needed to make it work. <br />-5- <br />