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<br />Specific standards for Single Family Attached in the HDR. City Code Section 105.12.740 (j) <br />contains standards for attached townhome units in the HDR Zoning District. The Development <br />meets requirements for buildings to be below ten units, and adequate open space is provided. The <br />City’s standards require buildings to front a public street with 15’ frontage and with no parking <br />between the building and street. Private drives are permitted by the City’s ordinance through a <br />conditional use permit. The private lots are all greater than 15’ wide and front a private drive. <br />Because all proposed units are double-fronted, staff find the development is compliant with the <br />intent of the City’s requirements, and any necessary flexibilities will be approved through the <br />PUD. <br /> <br />Specific standards for Multifamily Dwellings in the HDR. City Code Section 105.12.740 (k) <br />requires that parking be screened from the public streets and that common open space of a <br />minimum 200 square feet per unit. Both design standards are met by this proposed project. <br /> <br />Design Guideline Conformance. City Code Section 105.12.840 requires design review against <br />standards in the Lake Elmo Design Standards Manual. The proposed housing types are provided <br />in the packet and include elevations and floor plans. Staff review of conformance is below: <br /> <br />Townhome Site Design <br />• Building placement – Buildings are oriented perpendicular to the street, with entrances <br />oriented towards the street where possible. All townhome units are double fronted, and <br />are oriented to a street where feasible, and public open space with connected sidewalks <br />where street frontage is not possible. <br />• Streetscape – Concrete sidewalks are provided through the development and run along <br />the street where feasible. Buildings are connected with sidewalks and front the street <br />where feasible. <br />• Landscaping – Overstory trees will not meet the City’s boulevard tree spacing standard of <br />one tree every 50’in areas outside of the proposed Street C. Landscaping with shallow <br />root systems which will not impact utility service lines should be planted between <br />driveways to screen mechanical and HVAC equipment. Preservation of existing trees will <br />help the development blend in with the existing development along the 5th Street North <br />Corridor. <br />• Parking – All parking would be in enclosed spaces or on driveways and would not <br />impede pedestrian movement. Street parking is proposed as 90-degree stalls, however <br />staff would recommend parallel parking, instead, located in bump-outs consistent with <br />engineering standards. <br /> <br />Townhome Building Design <br />• Form and Façade – Buildings are proposed with architecture consistent throughout the <br />site, and the surrounding areas. Facades are articulated with little or no blank wall space. <br />• Building Materials – Vinyl siding is prohibited by the City’s design standards and staff <br />recommend a condition of approval be made to require an alternative material that is <br />permitted such as fiber cement siding. Otherwise, design and color appear to be generally <br />consistent with standards for townhomes. <br />• Mass and Scale – Buildings are articulated to create the appearance of multiple structures. <br />Due to the private street design approach, buildings are located more closely together <br />than nearby residential development, creating a denser appearance.