02-23-2005 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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impacts on stormwater and downstream water resources (including Gervais Lake). The landscape plan relies on a series of prairie plantings and "rain- gardens" to reuse stormwater on the site, and minimize run -off. The building requires a total of 22 parking space according to the City's zoning regulations. The parking lot provides for 23 spaces, plus 3 additional spaces within the proposed garage. As noted above, the parking lot is required to be screened. The landscape plan provides for rain - garden and prairie plantings between the parking area and the street right of way. It would appear that native shrub plantings could be incorporated into the design to ensure that the parking area is adequately screened. In addition, a row of overstory trees is shown along the boulevard, These trees should help to filter the view between the street and the parking area as well. The ordinance also requires that no outdoor storage, including the storage of trucks, is allowed on the site. The RWMWD has indicated that they intend to keep up to two small to average pickup trucks overnight in the parking lot. The zoning ordinance does not define "truck ", however, light trucks such as pickups are licensed as passenger vehicles, and would not appear to meet the intent of this clause. Moreover, the addition of plant material as discussed above should mitigate most of the concerns over visual impact. A question has been raised by neighbors relating to the applicable setback for the east side yard facing Noel Drive. The Public zoning district does not include a requirement the front yard setback to be met on corner lot side yards, as is common for most of the other zoning districts. It would appear that the building design could be altered to increase the setback from the public street in this area. However, the layout as proposed meets the stated requirements of the ordinance. The plans do not show signage proposed for the building. Any signage should be sensitive to the residential neighborhood, and will be required to meet the regulations of the district. These regulations limit the size of the sign to 24 square feet in area, and require a monument -style design. Finally, it is noted that the establishment of the natural landscape proposed by the RWMWD will often require a significant amount of maintenance in the first two to three years after installation. It is further noted that during this period, the landscape can tend to look unkempt. The RWMWD should identify their maintenance plan for the establishment of this landscape. In addition, a landscape bond should be provided, in accordance with the zoning ordinance regulations, to ensure that the landscape is properly installed, maintained, and avoids an unsightly appearance inconsistent with the area. Summary and Recommendation The RWMWD is seeking approval of a CUP and Subdivision under the provisions of the Public zoning district regulations, including the use of a natural landscape planting plan and the overnight parking of up to two pickup trucks outside. The plan appears to meet the technical requirements of the zoning ordinance, with the following recommendation: 2