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Natures Refuge North Concept Plan Submittal <br />Page 3 <br />minimum of six (6) feet in depth, and extends across 100 percent of the front façade of the house. <br />The garage shall then not protrude forward of the front porch. <br />o Request: We are requesting that this standard be waived. M/I Homes has several elevations <br />for each floor plan that provide enhanced architectural features that allow for visual interest <br />throughout the community. We offer a wide variety of materials and colors to break up the <br />façade. This is an extension of the existing Natures Refuge, and we want to create a <br />cohesive neighborhood that will be pleasing to the homeowners. Additionally, the <br />Watermark development was granted similar flexibility with their garages, which is <br />appropriate when introducing different housing styles. <br />• Standard (1007.092 (4)(b)(2): If the garage door faces the street, the length of the garage wall <br />facing the street shall not be greater than 50 percent of the length of the entire front façade of the <br />structure; except on houses that comply with all of the following conditions: <br />o The second floor living space extends over the two-car portion of the garage; and <br />o The garage doors are decorative and have a strip of windows; and <br />o Garages in excess of two (2) stalls shall be broken up so the additional stalls are recessed <br />two (2) feet from the main garage façade; and <br />o Garage width does not exceed 32 feet. <br /> Request: We are requesting that this standard be amended to allow garage walls to <br />be up to 67% of the length of the entire front façade. M/I Homes has internal anti- <br />monotony rules in our communities to ensure a wide variety of elevations and finishes <br />that result in a pleasing streetscape. The garage doors will be decorative and have <br />a strip of windows, and garages in excess of two (2) stalls will be offset by a <br />minimum of two (2) feet. This will apply to all lots. This is also a flexibility that has <br />been granted in the Watermark development. <br /> <br />ELEVATIONS <br /> <br />Example elevations of our single-family and villa product have been provided. These are just an example of <br />the many elevations we offer. We also have anti-monotony requirements to ensure that very similar elevations <br />are not adjacent to one another within the community to preserve visual interest. <br /> <br />DENSITY <br /> <br />The total site area is 59.30 acres with 6.05 acres of wetlands and 4.31 acres of wetland buffers. The <br />planned density for this area is 1.6-3 units per acre. Netting out wetlands and wetland buffers, we are <br />proposing a density of 2.21 units per acre, well below the maximum-allowed density. Netting out the gas line <br />easement, which is 3.45 acres, we are at a density of 2.41 units per acre, however, the Metropolitan Council <br />does not net out utility easements when calculating density. The wetlands and their required buffers as well as <br />the gas line easement create a challenge in being able to meet the required minimum density without creating <br />smaller lots. With this site plan, 80-foot lots would yield 69 lots as shown in the Yield Plan Density Exhibit, <br />which would result in a density of 1.52 units per acre, which is below the minimum density planned for this <br />area. <br /> <br />RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS <br /> <br />The development will have an HOA that will provide for the maintenance of the overall common elements in <br />the community, including landscaping of the common areas as applicable and management of the natural <br />resources. The HOA will also provide lawn care and snow removal for villa lots. Additionally, restrictions will