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N. COMMUNITY PLANNING - DESIGN - MARKET RESEARCH <br />NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Little Canada Planning Commission <br />FROM: Stephen Grittman <br />DATE: June 7, 1999 <br />RE: Little Canada - Viking Partnership Commercial Building <br />FILE NO: 758.09 - 99.18 <br />RJ Marco is proposing to construct an office /warehouse facility on property along Viking <br />Drive which is currently a part of the Little Canada Mall. The property would be split from <br />the Mall parcel by a plat, which would also include a small strip of land along Viking Drive <br />which was formerly held by MnDOT as right -of -way. The plat has raised some issues due <br />to the grade of the parcel, and a retaining wall necessary along the west property line. <br />The City Engineer has provided a report regarding these issues. Any plat approval should <br />reference the recommendations made in that report. <br />From the planning perspective, the project proposes to cover the entire site with <br />impervious surface, with the sole exception of the five foot parking lot setback around the <br />perimeter of the property. No landscape plan has been provided. The lack of internal site <br />landscaping is an issue. The Architectural Guidelines encourage landscaping of <br />commercial sites to enhance the business district and the environment created by the <br />development. One option to increase green area on this site would be to move the <br />building to one side of the lot, such as the east property line. No side yard setback is <br />required for the building in this district. This would accommodate a single driveway along <br />the side of the building serving two rows of parking, and eliminating one of the driveway <br />widths. This additional 24 feet of space could serve to provide planting area, and perhaps <br />solve the grading issues raised by the City Engineer. <br />With regard to the building design itself, the building is constructed of two types of <br />concrete block facing Viking Drive. The Architectural Guidelines call for brick or stone, or <br />similar treatment for the building facade. Concrete block has been allowed as a <br />complementary material, but not the primary one, in this district. <br />5775 WAYZATA BOULEVARD, <br />PHONE 612-595-9636 FA <br />SI IITF 5FF CT <br />PAGE 154 <br />' nUIS PARK, MINNESOTA 55416 <br />: -MAIL NAC @ WINTERNET.COM <br />