06-24-2003 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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of Little Cana COMMUNITY PRIDE 195 - 2003 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 www. ci.little- canada.nm. u s MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Fahey & Members of the City Council FROM: Joel Hanson, City Administrator DATE: June 20, 2003 RE: Final Plat & Final Stage PUD for Villas of Little Canada MAYOR Michael I. Fahey COUtNC L, Jim L..aValle Batt Anderson Rick Montour Bill Blesener ADMINISTRATOR Joel R. Hanson Before granting approval to this project, I want to ensure the City Council is aware of the nature of this development. Mr. Sherman has been attempting to meet the City's needs as well as achieve financial viability for the project from his perspective. Given the changes that have been made in the past couple of weeks, I want to ensure this project will have an acceptable outcome. FIere are the concerns I have identified: • The number of two -story townhomes has increased from eight (8) in the concept approval we granted last year to 23 in the proposal currently before us. (This number may be one less depending on which type of unit Mr. Sherman is eliminating to meet the spacing requirements we have asked for.) In reviewing the plans for these units, I noticed that there are eight steps to gain access to the main entryway from street level. This will not be conducive to the senior market we asked that this housing target. (We did ask for two -story units along Little Canada road to maintain some scale balance in contrast to the Lodge. We also acknowledged that people other than seniors will be purchasing these units. However, I don't believe the two story units proposed are not targeted to the older market). Very similar units can be viewed in Shoreview at Mr. Sherman's development located on the NE corner of County Road D and Larpenteur Avenue. • Parking in front of the garages is still very limited. Of those with direct access to the street, the vast majority have only 21 feet between the garage door and the back of curb. Given that a full size car is about 17 to 18 feet long and an SUV /Pick -up is about 19 -20 feet long, driveway parking will be challenging for those type of vehicles by the time you leave a little space from the garage door while not allowing the vehicle to hang out into the street surface. • Garages are also pretty tight if one is to park two vehicles inside. Interior dimensions of the Shoreview units appeared to be only 17 to 18 feet wide (16 foot doors). A full sized car is about seven feet wide. An SUV is approximately eight feet wide. Based on the plan views, it appears those proposed in Little Canada are similar. Our Building Official informed me a standard garage is 20 x 24 — exterior dimensions. • In the case of building #14, parking from the garage door to the hack of sidewalk is only 15 feet.