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- Apr-11-97 09:49A Howard Sheldon 1-714-779-6612 P.04 • Planning Commission 471-97: O'Neil Property April 10, 1997 Page 3 Planning Commission members indicated that they felt a fence must be installed in the buffer area as soon as the development commences, and not only when the office buildings are built. The fence needs to be at least six feet in height and opaque, so that headlights do not shine into the neighborhood. It is needed right away to prevent fit traffic from the neighborhood to the theater complex. * Wetland Buffer: Planning Commission members felt that the amount of encroachment into the buffer area was acceptable, and that it was preferable that the encroachment be caused by a building rather than a parking lot. * Additions to Infrastructure: The general consensus was that any sidewalk along County Road H2 should be done when the road is reconstructed, which is not expected to be done with this project. There should be a requirement that a sidewalk be built along Highway 10 from Long Lake Road to County Road H2, and a walkway along the northern edge of the wetland to connect with the walkway along Mounds View Drive which leads to Silver View Park. • * Signage: It was agreed that signage should be addressed at the development plan stage. * Size of Theater Complex: The applicant indicated that they are committed to this size of theater (16 screens, 2648 seats) based on their marketing information, and that all theaters built by them in this market will be at least 16 screens. It was noted that comparing the number of screens between theater developments may not provide an accurate gauge of the size of the complex. Comparing the number of seats is a better gauge. For example, the theater in White Bear Township is 14 screens, and approximately 2600 seats. The Kerasotas Theater proposed for Coon Rapids is 16 screens and 3000 seats. * Concerns from Schools: Staff reported on conversations with the principals of Irondale High School, Edgewood Middle School, and Pinewood and Sunnyside Elementary Schools. The general conclusions were that the principals did not see the theater complex as creating any appreciable problems for them. They did not expect the theaters to add to truancy, i.e. if a child decides to be truant, they will do so whether there is a theater or not. There may be an occasional child who makes the mistake of going to the theater. Donna Nelson, principal at Pinewood, suggested that developing a cooperative working relationship with the theater management could address this problem. Ms. Nelson noted that having the theater building available as an emergency shelter should the school need to be evacuated in severe weather would be helpful. Penny Howard, • principal at Edgewood, noted that the theater might give children a constructive place to go, outside of school hours.