Agenda Packets - 2001/04/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Pinewood Report April 23, 2001 Page 2 location, thus no variance was required. However, because there is the existing encroachment with no evident approval, the City Attorney has advised that a Limited Use Agreement should be executed which would protect the City’s interests and hold us harmless from any potential liabilities, however remote they may be. The Limited Use Agreement is attached for the Council’s review. The parking lot proposed for the southwest corner of the lot will replace existing pavement used as a playground. The playground asphalt is currently 25 feet from the south property line. It is proposed that the new pavement would be 30 feet from the property line, in keeping with Code requirements for a parking lot. Building Materials: The building expansion will become a seamless addition to the existing facility by matching to the fullest extent possible the existing brick. The rooftop mechanical equipment will be screened to restrict public view. Parking Requirements: There are currently 68 parking stalls available at Pinewood Elementary. It has become evident that either due to poor on-site circulation or limited parking availability, parking spills onto Quincy Street, a situation which has generated numerous complaints from residents. The parking requirements for a school are such that one stall per classroom plus one stall per fifty students shall be provided. Given the 32 classrooms and 660 students, our Code would only require 46 stalls. Clearly this is not sufficient for Pinewood Elementary, which employs a staff of 95. The expansion would increase the available parking on the site to 110 stalls, an increase of 42 stalls. It is expected that the parking expansion, if utilized by school staff, would alleviate most of the parking problems. The administration indicated its intent to form a committee of neighbors, staff, parents and administration to examine some of these issues in the long term. Drainage and Utility: The applicant has applied for a Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) permit, which is required due to the size and scope of the project area and the extent of impervious surface being manipulated. The permit has or will be approved by RCWD. The new parking lot to the south will drain into a vegetative swale to capture runoff and contaminants, a practice encouraged by RCWD. Because no construction will be occurring within 100 feet of a wetland, no City buffer permits are required. Landscaping: Some of the existing landscaping and plantings will be removed and relocated as a result of the building and parking lot expansion. Given the amount of existing mature landscaping, the Planning Commission determined that no other landscaping should be required, other than to restore any disturbed pervious areas. Some residents on Quincy Street indicated a need for additional screening via shrubs or berming, a possibility that the to-be-formed committee will investigate. If any landscaping is proposed, the Planning Commission indicated that the City Forester should review and approve the plantings. Lighting: A photometric analysis has been submitted for the project area which appears to be in conformance with City glare and light spillage standards. The applicant will need to indicate which fixtures are new on the plan, submit the specifications for the new individual fixtures and indicate the height of the new light standards.