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Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes • January 30, 1996 Page 6 1 The Ste. Marie Corporation has submitted a sideyard setback variance request for the existing mall 2 building on the newly created Lot 7, Apache Plaza. The subdivision of land is intended to create 3 several commercial lots which will provide redevelopment opportunities to SuperValu and other 4 potential retailers. The J.C. Penney's portion of the existing mall and the health club will be 5 demolished to allow for the construction of a Cub Foods store. The remaining north portion of the 6 mall will be situated on the newly created property line between Lot 7 and Lot 1. According to the 7 City Zoning Ordinance, Section 1635.05, Subd. 5, interior side yards of commercial buildings are 8 required to be 10 feet in width. 9 In a letter submitted to the City by Jack Amdal, KKE Architects, there are several issues that are 10 particular to Apache Plaza as it currently exists and which are creating redevelopment hardships that 11 has necessitated Ste. Marie Corporation's request for a side yard setback variance of 10 feet. These 12 issues include: 13 1. Ste. Marie Corporation needs to deal with a deteriorating and obsolete shopping 14 center mall which requires significant redevelopment and restructuring activities to 15 bring it to its best and reasonable use as a commercial property. 16 2. A portion of the mall must remain intact because there are a number of existing 4R leases that run for the next several years. In order to accommodate these tenants and SuperValu's interest in building a Cub Food store, Ste. Marie Corporation proposes 19 to leave most of the mall standing. 20 3. For the safety of the occupants, the structural integrity of the central mall must be 21 maintained. In allowing a side yard set back variance at the renovated north end,the 22 need to restructure the existing roofing system and structure will be eliminated. 23 Also,an emergency exit,which is required by the Uniform Building Code and public 24 restrooms will not be eliminated and access to the mall from the west will remain 25 useable. 26 The granting of a side yard variance for Lot 7 allows for the reasonable use and continued 27 accessibility of the remaining mall,while also enabling planned redevelopment plans for the whole 28 property to move forward. 29 Duane Grace submitted a report to the City upon reviewing plans for the proposed partial demolition 30 of northern portion of the existing mall involving the old J.C. Penney's store. In his report, Mr. 31 Grace advised the City that according to the Uniform Building Code, a zero-lot line for the 32 remaining mall building will be acceptable provided that 1.)a two-hour(2) fire rated area separation 33 wall be constructed to replace that wall that is removed and that this wall be continued at right angles 34 to the east and west of the exterior of the Cub Foods store for an additional five (5) feet in each direction; 2.) 60 feet of open area be maintained around Cub Foods store and the remaining portion of the existing mall as is required,with the exception of the northern wall;and 3.)that both buildings 37 will maintain a fully automatic fire suppression systems.