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August 20, 2019 Page 6 The housing aspect of the project potentially raises the issue of affordability. The City’s Comprehensive Plan identifies several aspects of affordability and density. The Plan notes that for existing housing stock, St. Anthony Village provides a greater ratio of affordable housing, a greater ratio of rental housing, and a greater ratio of multiple family housing that the metropolitan area in general. This is also true for most aspects of affordability when compared to nearby suburban communities. With regard to planned housing and affordability, the Metropolitan Council assigned (as a part of the 2040 Plan Update process) an allocation for 152 additional “affordable” units to St. Anthony for the 2021-2030 decade. The Plan accommodates this allocation with land designated for affordable residential development of more than 460 units. The proposed Silver Lake Village PUD Amendment presently before the City is also defined as affordable in Met Council’s calculations, based on its density – doubling the proposed potential supply. Planning staff would note that while rent ranges for the proposed project are not considered in this calculation, not every project will meet every goal of the Comprehensive Plan. The primary goals met by this project would include compatible redevelopment of the Walmart site – an important Village planning objective which stands on its own. Land Use Compatibility. In consideration of the proposed apartment building project, a determination should be made that the proposed use is compatible with surrounding uses. Land uses which surround the subject site include the Silver Lake Village commercial shopping to the north (along 39th Avenue NE), a convenience gas station and coffee store to the east, a Soo Line rail to the south and multi-family residential housing to the west. A City park (Salo Park) also lies to the west of the project site. Recognizing that multi-family residential uses and a park border the subject site on the west, the proposed multi-family housing project will be contiguous to similar uses and therefore is considered generally compatible with surrounding uses (and not an isolated use). Site Access. Primary access to the subject site is to be provided from the east via Silver Lake Road. In this regard, the access previously utilized by Walmart is to be retained. Access to a surface parking lot in the northwest corner of the site is to be provided indirectly from 39th Avenue NE through an abutting commercial property. As a condition of Final PUD approval, an assurance should be made that an access easement is in place to accommodate the northly access to the subject site. Proof of such access easement should be provided to the City. Access-related issues should be subject to further comment and recommendation by the City Engineer. Site and Building Layout. The site and building layout are considered well-conceived and respectful of the site’s context.