#08 - At Home Apartments Premin Plat & PUD

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PRELIMINARY PLAT APPLICATION & PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) APPLICATION UPDATE 01.08.23 plan presented on December 11, 2023, featured a 32’ wide street and 66’ wide right -of-way, complying with City requirements. However, adhering to this width resulted in the proposed building structures being situated close to the north property lines, necessitating the removal of all tr ees located along the north property line of Lot 1, Block 2/Lake Elmo East. Both the public and the Applicant suggested that if the city permitted a reduction in street width to 28’ and 60’ right-of-way, aligning other public streets in neighboring communities, it would enable the Applicant to shift the building locations southward to save additional trees. This also provides additional space to provide more dense vegetative screening. The Applicant has since submitted a revised plan featuring a 28’ wide street. Consequently, this adjustment allows the preservation of 7 existing trees. We’ve also improved our impervious surface percentage for the entire project, including the ROW/street. The current overall impervious surface percentage is 40.4%, a reduction from over 48%. These adjustments provided additional site improvements such as increased green space, reduced stormwater runoff, and increased space for new and additional plantings and trees (beyond what was previously shown). The Applicant is requesting flexibility under the PUD designation to allow for a 28’ street width, deviating from the standard 32’. This flexibility harmonizes the existing conditions in the area, promotes additional green space, reduces impervious surface (a public benefit), and facilities tree preservation and improved screening, as per the public’s request. Tree Preservation: As mentioned above, with the revisions made to the proposed street width the Applicant was able to save 7 of the existing trees. Moving the buildings to the south also created more space allowing the Applicant to increase is tree and planting counts, increase the diversity of plant and trees species, and improve the screening between land uses. Landscape and Screening Plans: The Applicant also revised its landscape plans to account for the reduced street width. Reducing the street width is a positive change for landscaping and screening, particularly for the north property line. By moving the buildings southward, there is more space to increase plantings along with tree preservation. When combining the revised landscape plan, with the saved trees and the trees that exist along the boulevard of sunflower (trees outside the Applicant’s property line), there is ample screening to properly separate t he different land uses. City code requires a 6’ high fence with 90% opacity between land uses. The Applicant is requesting flexibility to allow for vegetative screening rather than a fence. Vegetative screening provides a more natural and visually appealing look when compared to fences. Vegetative screening is also consistent and in harmony with the existing neighborhoods. Plants and trees enhance the beauty of the surroundings and contribute to a more attractive landscape. Unlike fences, vegetation creat es softer and less imposing boundaries. This makes the transition between properties and land uses gradual and harmonious, adding to the sense of openness.