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Planning & Zoning Board <br />September 11, 2001 <br />Page 18 <br />• Staff stated the school had indicated that no future expansion of the school was anticipated. <br />Staff indicated with a total of 173 parking stalls being provided on site, the minimum off - street <br />parking supply requirements of the Ordinance had been satisfied. <br />Staff stated the elementary school was to be accessed via a northerly extension of the middle <br />school access drive from Elm Street. <br />Staff explained the Ordinance required that a minimum of 35 percent of the subject site be <br />devoted to open space, yard and /or landscaped area. The combined middle school /elementary <br />school site significantly exceeded the minimum green area requirement. <br />Staff indicated trash and recycling handling activities were to occur on the east side of the school <br />(alongside the gymnasium). As a condition of site and building plan/conditional use permit <br />approval, all trash handling equipment must be screened from view of adjacent properties by a <br />fence of wall at least six feet in height with a minimum opaqueness of 80 percent. <br />Staff stated applicant's submission did not include a photometric lighting plan nor does the site <br />plan illustrate exterior lighting locations. According to Section 3 Subd. 4.H of the Ordinance, <br />any lighting used to illuminate an off - street parking area must be hooded and arranged to deflect <br />light away public streets and adjacent properties. As a condition of site and building <br />plan/conditional use permit approval, a photometric plan and light fixture details should be <br />submitted subject to review and approval by the City Council. <br />Staff stated it had been indicated that the proposed ball fields would not be illuminated. It should <br />be noted that if the school district does decided to illuminate the field at some future point, it <br />would be necessary to process a conditional use permit amendment. <br />Staff explained institutional signage associated with the elementary school was governed by the <br />City's sign Ordinance and would be subject to a separate permit. All signs would be reviewed <br />with the sign permit applications. <br />With respect to landscaping, staff stated generally speaking, the submitted landscape plan was <br />well conceived. The plan calls for a mixture of coniferous and deciduous plants, trees, and <br />shrubs throughout the site. More specifically, a row of spruce trees (Black Hills or Colorado) <br />have been proposed along I -35W and canopy trees (Sugar Maple, Red Maple and White Ash) <br />have been proposed along the periphery of the building. Sod has been proposed in along the <br />perimeter of the school while the outlying areas (play fields etc) are to be seeded. <br />Staff stated the landscape plan specified planting varieties only in a general sense (i.e. evergreen, <br />canopy and understory trees). As a condition of site and building plan and conditional use <br />permit approval, the variety of each individual planting should be specified. <br />Staff explained in addition, the Environmental Board had recommended that planting varieties be <br />evaluated in terms of salt tolerance, particularly those plantings proposed along I -35W. <br />Staff stated as a condition of site and building plan and conditional use permit approval, a tree <br />preservation plan should be submitted. Trees considered worthy of preservation by the <br />