03-23-1983 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Little Canada Planning Commission 24 February 1983 Page Three A requirement of a P.U.D. states that no building within the project shall be nearer to another building than z the sum of the building heights of the two buildings. In this case, 30+ feet are required between each building. The plan now proposes 20 feet between buildings. The purpose of this re- quirement is to allow for the sense of visual openness on the site, plus is a density concern. A variance from the requirement has been requested. The Ordinance states that variances may be granted only for reasons of physical hardship peculiar to the land or hardship as a result of previous public action. In the case of the Heather Oaks site, severe topography is present although it doesn't appear to have limited the utilization of the site except for possibly an extra wide strip of land between the front and second row of structures that has been steeply graded and will include retaining walls. This evidence of topographic limitation may justify one structure being placed closer to another than is permitted. Otherwise, had the site been level, it would not have accommodated additional structures. The existing 30 foot wide easement along the western edge of the property could be considered a public action and therefore may be the justification for one other structure placed closer to another than is permitted. Altogether, it doesn't appear that the limitations of the physical site or public action justify more than two structures to be placed within 30+ feet of another structure. The remaining structures will need to be spaced out probably resulting in the loss of a structure. Again, the possible transfer of Viking Drive could alleviate the crowding problem and the loss of a structure by supplying extra buildable land at the southwest corner of the site. The project is proposed to be developed in phases as follows: 1st Phase: 5 Buildings, 10 units during 1983 -84 - Buildings A, B, C, D, E 2nd Phase: 5 Buildings, 10 units during 1984 -85 - Buildings F. G, H, I, 3rd Phase: 5 Buildings, 10 units during 1985 -86 - Buildings K, L, M, N, 0 In order not to delay the project schedule by extensive negotiation on design problems, an appropriate first phase might be to build four structures of Phase One, i.e., B, C and D, spaced out to allow 30+ feet in between, and E as proposed. When /if Viking Drive is transferred to the City, structure A plus an additional structure can be added in what is presently the large piece of excess right -of -way. 43