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Silver Lake Commons Development Review Planning Case No. 487-97 ipJuly 24, 1997 Page 5 The applicant is proposing two play areas for this development: a tot lot located between the existing Red Oak Apartment buildings, and another larger area with play equipment, open play area, picnic area and barbeque grills located behind the rental townhome units. A small, indoor recreation/social room will be provided next to the rental office for year-round gatherings or other similar functions. Site Renovation and Access: One of the major components of this project is the renovation of the existing Red Oak Apartments, which has fallen into a state of neglect and disrepair. The buildings will be compimtely renovated to match the design of the new rental townhomes. In addition to exterior improvements such as new hip-styled roofs, windows and siding, the interior will refurbished as well. Apartments will be renovated three or four at a time, depending upon the number of vacant units. As units are completed, existing residents will move into them, vacating their old apartments. This process will continue until each apartment has been completed. Currently, there is very little usable green space available on the Red Oak property. Children have been playing in the parking lot, driveway, unsecured lawn area along Highway 10 or in the Highway 10 right of way itself, none of which are suitable due to safety considerations. The parking areas are currently separated from the buildings by less than ten feet. With the relocation 4, of the driveway south of the apartment buildings, an expanse of green space will be created as well as a 28-foot buffer from the parking lot for the 2657 Highway 10 building. The existing covered garages on the site will be razed and replaced by two new garage buildings, one of which accommodating 15 stalls, and the other 26 stalls. Utilities and Easements:Platting: There are water and sewer lines in both Eastwood Road and Highway 10, so utilities are available to the site. The applicant will need to replat the site to remove the lot lines since development will be crossing those lines. A park dedication fee will need to be paid as a result of the replatting. The need for easements for utilities and drainage for the development would be addressed at that time. There are existing utility lines remaining from a former single family residence on the site that will need to be removed and stubbed at the property line. Comments from Referral Agencies: Comments have been received from the City Engineer and MnDOT, which were discussed earlier in this report. Staff has also received comments from the Fire Department and School District, which are attached. The School District has indicated that there is sufficient room in the schools for the number of additional children that this development is expected to generate. The Waterworks, which has an easement in close proximity to the development, has indicated by telephone that they have no concerns with the proposal.