01-26-2023 Planning Commission Packet

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STAFF REPORT TO: Chair Kwapick and Members of the Planning Commission FROM:Corrin Wendell, AICP, Community Development Director DATE: Thursday, January 26, 2023 RE: Preliminary Plat and Variance – 0 Edgerton Street (PID 052922340061) – Villas of Gervais Lake – Case #1414 ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED To consider approval of a Preliminary Plat and Variance application for the property located at 0 Edgerton Street (PID 052922340061) to subdivide the parcel into 7 parcels with an 8-foot reduction of Lot Depth from 130 feet to 122 feet for 4 of the 7 parcels located on the west side of the subdivision. BACKGROUND City staff was initially approached in March of 2022 by Sean Keats from Cara Builders, LLC about the potential subdivision of a 3.12 acre parcel located north of Little Canada Road and bordered by Edgerton Street to the east and Gervais Mill Park to the north. The parcel is in the R-1 single family zoning district and is the last undeveloped remnant of the Huot property. There are several unique circumstances related to this site including grade and topography changes of approximately 28 feet (884’ to 912’) on the south end and 20 feet (884’ to 864’) on the north end of the parcel. The north end of the parcel is also designated as a floodplain and may only be used for drainage and stormwater retention. In addition, site access is limited and Ramsey County will only allow a road at the north end of the parcel to maintain sufficient distance from the Edgerton Street and Little Canada Road intersection. These issues create practical difficulties, but it remains a prime residential development site. City staff worked with the developer on eight site plans before arriving at a layout that would work for the site with minimal variances. The initial site plan included 11 single-family lots and was ultimately reduced to 8 single-family lots before being presented to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission reviewed the application at the July 14th Planning Commission meeting and voted to recommend approval (5-1) to the City Council. The City Council conducted a public hearing and considered the Preliminary Plat application at the July 27 City Council meeting. Based on feedback from residents, the City Council recommended reducing the site plan to seven single-family lots and referred the application back to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission reviewed the recommended changes to