04/12/2006 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Legacy Townhomes, page 3 • Staff believes that all of these setbacks are bein g met, though the intention of some is a bit lost due to notations 3 and 4 being absent from the approved guidelines. Specifically, it is staff's belief that the setback of the garage from dwelling facade is only applicable to garages that are on the front facade. Architectural Standards The Lino Lakes Town Center Design and Development Guidelines (LLTCDDG) typically require a base, middle, and top approach to the commercial architecture within the Legacy at Woods Edge project. However, it does not require this within the residential architectural standards. So that approach will not be followed. All units include windows within the doors, as well as surrounding the doorway for transparency and daylighting. All doors (including the garage doors) are also panelized for further detail. Windows for the units cover well over 25% of the front facades and on the main living floor of each unit the windows are within the parlors and dining rooms. Staff has recommended a condition that will address the need for a recess of at least two inches for all windows and doors. During discussion with the Planning and Zoning Board members who attended the informal Architectural Review Committee meeting for this project, the question of if the project meets the requirement that `the front facade of all residential buildings must be articulated with porches, bay windows, or balconies'. While staff had initially thought the provision of stoops and patio /green area for each unit provided enough visual interest, the results of that meeting were that the developer would be asked to pursue the inclusion of box bay windows for *its and also to provide a greater step back than the 8 inches currently provided. The developer has provided a great deal of variation in the roof forms of the buildings including the changes in heights and the addition of gabled dormers. The applicant is proposing to use hardi -board horizontal lap- siding, which is a recommended product for this project. Staff has encouraged the developer to pursue additional materials such as brick and stucco for greater variation. The side elevations are quite stark in comparison to the front facade and do not currently address the requirements of the guidelines that side elevations at corners have the same detail of the front elevation. Nor does it provide in anyway the wrapping of patio or porch elements that the guideline recommends. For the patio areas that are provided at the front of the units the applicant is proposing a decorative wrought iron fencing that will be repeated on any retaining walls that might be necessary for grade changes. Parking Requirements The standards require two parking spaces per unit, which will be accommodated within the garages for each unit. The guidelines do not require guest parking because of the on -site parking on the street frontages. However, because of the location of some of the units the applicant has proposed to provide an additional 32 parking stalls which staff would like to see reduced by six so that the parking closest to Town Center Parkway •nd Village Drive is eliminated in favor of additional green space and landscaping. Open Space and Landscaping Chapter 4 of the guidelines does not address landscaping, therefore staff will use some of the Chapter 3.6 standards to guide the landscaping of the site. We will work with the developer prior to the next meeting to