07/13/2011 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Board July 13, 2011 Page 3 APPROVED MINUTES traffic backing up. They will not succeed if traffic does not flow for customers. They want good traffic flow. • O rientation of the Buildin g : They moved the building to create a bigger buffer area from residents to the west . The present orientation reduces the amount of lights shining from the parking lot and creates a larger green buffer and berm area. The new design c reates a better visu al block from the building. • Size of S tore : The developer has provided evidence to the city to prove that this size of store is warranted. A smaller store does not economically work for this area. • D elivery and H ours of O peration : The store is not inten ded to be open 24 hours. The common time for a grocery store is 6 a.m. to midnight . Hours of delivery were discussed and truck traffic will be addressed. • Site L ine : Oppidan has not yet updated the sight line study . This will occur when they get feed back on a feasible concept plan . They intend to include a six -foot high p rivacy fence w ith trees on either side t o provide year -round screening . They t ook into consideration the varying elevations of neighboring homes. The l andscaping plan can be refine d for application. The developer responded to questions from the B oard. Mr. Tucci stated that Oppidan has not determined a number of truck trips per day to the site. He said that infrastructure will be funded with the help of T IF (tax increment financin g .) Mr. Tucci pointed out that the market is very different today than it was in 2007 when the M aster Plan was completed. He noted that s maller shops are difficult in this economy. The d eveloper noted that improvement to utilities and infrastructure com e s when either all of the neighboring property owners come together or a development becomes the catalyst for improvements. The developer said that plans previously included additional buildings to show potential landscaping and streetscap e flow within th e development. T he d eveloper added that the liquor store building was moved outside of the box to create a design element . The developer responded to a question about what alternative to a grocer would potentially develop on this property. Mr. Tucci exp lained that s mall shop owners need someone to generate repeat traffic. If not a grocer, in order to pay for the land and development, the most likely development after a grocer would be a drug store. He noted that national r estaurants like to be located i n hub areas and local restaurants are hard to maintain. He stated that this area needs a catalyst for development. Mr. Tralle allowed for public comment.