Laserfiche WebLink
5 <br /> <br /> <br />Buffering and Screening. City Code Section 105.12.970 (f)(2) requires a 150-foot buffer from abutting <br />residential properties. While the school building and nearly all site improvements meet the building <br />setback requirement, a driveway access for the busses will be located within 38’ of the northern property <br />line. The parcel immediately to the north is undeveloped but is zoned Rural Single Family. This <br />necessitates a variance to the buffering standard. Key rationale include mandatory access spacing <br />requirements for safety along Lake Elmo Avenue, and that the nearest home to the north of the proposed <br />drive is over four hundred feet away. <br /> <br />Trees are proposed in the landscaping plan to line the school’s northern driveway access and would help <br />to recreate the vegetative buffer along with existing vegetated areas that will be preserved. <br /> <br />Building Design. Elevations submitted with the site plans indicate a new school building which is <br />designed with primary materials including brick, glass, and architecturally treated metal. In its design, <br />the building has facades which vary in design with contrasting building materials and colors and creates <br />visual interest. The building materials and façade elevations proposed are consistent with the City code <br />and design standards manual for such structures and are therefore found acceptable. <br /> <br />Parking. City code requires three spaces per classroom. There are 53 rooms that are classrooms or an <br />equivalent learning space. Therefore, a minimum of 159 parking spaces are required. There are a total of <br />211 parking spaces supplied in in the southern parking area, and a total of 13 adjacent to the bus parking <br />to create a total on site of 224 spaces. This site meets the parking minimum established by code. <br /> <br />Winter performance of the parking lot is an important consideration for safety and the reduction of <br />chloride use. The following suggestions are made to improve performance: <br />• Snow storage areas should be identified on grading plans. <br />• Grading of snow storage areas should be considered in order to reduce meltwater sprawl onto <br />surfaces treated with chlorides. <br />• Tree plantings and other landscaping should be carefully located such that plantings are not <br />destroyed by winter maintenance activities or salt from snow piles. <br /> <br />Traffic and Access. This project is served by two county roads, Lake Elmo Avenue North and 10th <br />Street North. A traffic study was required and supplied by the Applicant. Both the study and site plans <br />have been reviewed by the City Engineer and Washington County for issues related to traffic and access. <br /> <br />Washington County will ultimately require an access permit for the use and is the responsible <br />jurisdiction for county roads. Washington County has provided the following requirements in its letter <br />which are paraphrased here for brevity: <br />1. Turn Lanes are required for both access points. <br />2. Queuing on to county roads will not be permitted. Washington County is now planning to <br />improve the intersection of CSAH 10 and 17 in 2028. <br />3. A traffic light or roundabout is required at the entrance to the School (10th ST. N. entrance) this <br />will be expected at the School District’s cost. <br />4. The bus entrance on Lake Elmo Avenue may be restricted to a ¾ access intersection with <br />northern ‘left-outs’ prohibited. <br />5. Queuing on county roads will be prohibited.