11/25/2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • APPROVED COUNCIL MINUTES NOVEMBER 25, 2002 would be installed in accordance with this plan which would essentially be considered a temporary improvement. Councilmember Dahl raised the issue of the requested rezoning to General Business and Planned Development Overlay (PDO). She asked what the difference is between PDO General Business and just General Business. Community Development Director Grochala explained that the applicant is pursuing PDO as part of this site development to allow more than one building on the site and to break it up into three buildings instead of having one building. The building size is no greater than what would be allowed, but PDO allows flexibility to have more than one building on the site. As part of that flexibility, the City is able to push the architectural elements and incorporate parking into the site. Councilmember Dahl asked if the project exceeds the required building size. Community Development Grochala stated the proposal is for 30,266 square feet which is permitted regardless of a PDO being included. Councilmember Carlson asked if the plan identifies commercial on one side, residential directly across the street on the Ware Road extension, changes to the south moving commercial north towards Highway 49 and reducing the amount of commercial, adding more residential on Miller Farm, and assuming also some residential and commercial on opposite sides of Birch Street. Community Development Director Grochala stated with the Miller Farm property there will most likely be commercial on the western corner and residential to the east, both being south of the Spirit Hills property. Councilmember Carlson expressed concern that adequate landscaping be provided between the commercial and residential properties. She noted in this case there is no transition area since they are across the road from each other. She noted that Maple Trees have leaves for only one-half of the year so that provides screening for only one-half the year. On Birch Street, she noted there are Pine Trees, but still gaps in the screening. Councilmember Carlson stated that prior to letter from Anoka County, her main concern with this plan was with landscaping. Community Development Director Grochala stated, in terms of future residential development on the Miller Farm site, since it is adjacent to Birch Street the City would require additional screening and buffering, and increase setbacks from the roadway. He stated he thinks some changes can be made to include coniferous trees in combination with overstory trees to provide more year-round screening. Councilmember Carlson stated her preference would be screening since additional setbacks would be more expensive. She stated that was her only concern remaining with the plan. However, the letter from the Anoka County gives her a great deal of concern. Councilmember Carlson reviewed portions of the letter, noting the first indented paragraph talks about right-of-way and says additional right-of- way will be required adjacent to Highway 49. She noted that 60 feet of right-of-way, in typical applications, is adequate for reconstruction. However, it appears that this reconstruction would likely 16