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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014.02.03 CC PowerPoint LaValle Fields and O'ReillysLaValle Fields Preliminary Plat and PUD Bill Lentsch LaValle Fields, LLC January 21st City Council Meeting The City Council generally agreed that the use and density were compatible with the area. There were concerns on the apartments in regards to: Architecture and building material Building orientation and placement On-site management & parking Discussion on Finale Avenue extension to the south. January 21st City Council Meeting The City Council tabled the application requests until February 3, 2014, and directed staff to add conditions to the resolutions regarding storm water reuse and the construction of the apartment buildings. Staff as included a redlined resolutions highlighting the revisions. The applications were also tabled to allow time for discussion with the applicant on Finale Avenue extending to the south to CSAH 8. Finale Avenue Extension Meeting On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, there was meeting held at City Hall to discuss Finale Avenue. The discussion included property acquisition, right of way dedication, cost of construction, and cost sharing. New condition in the PUD resolution. Requires right of way dedication Recommendation It’s in staff’s opinion that the applications meet the necessary requirements and criteria to approve a preliminary plat and PUD, subject to conditions, as amended, in the resolutions. Staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat and PUD for LaValle Fields, subject to the findings and conditions, as amemded, in the attached ordinance and resolutions. O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Sketch Plan 14777 Forest Blvd Description of Request The applicant is requesting informal comments the sketch plan. 0.64 acres 7,385 square foot building Downtown plan and design guidelines 165th St El m c r e s t A v e Site 170th St H a r r o w A v e J e f f r e y A v e 147TH FO R E S T 147TH Downtown Plan and Design Guidelines The City approved the downtown plan and design guidelines in 2007. Downtown Area Highway 61, from CR 8 to 147th St The design guidelines encourage a development pattern that is not the same as a typical suburban style commercial shopping center Buildings in this area shall be placed towards the street, based on traditional downtown storefronts. Downtown Plan and Design Guidelines Cont. Prior to the adoption of the downtown plan and design guidelines, there were buildings that were placed further back on the property. Since then the City adopted the guidelines that that encourage the buildings to orient to the streets and anchor corners at key intersections, like a traditional downtown. The guidelines identify 147th St and Highway 61 as a key entry point into the downtown and encourages this area to be designed with gateway elements. General Design Standards The guidelines state that “building should be oriented to the street with fully articulated street facades based on traditional storefronts (doors and display windows) along the sidewalk”. The building is not oriented to the street, but rather to the parking lot. The building could be turned to be placed at the southwest corner, with parking to the east This would create an anchored corner along Highway 61 and would feel more like a traditional downtown storefront. General Design Standards, cont. The guidelines state that “all new downtown development shall provide for pedestrian as well as vehicle circulation and shall create linkages to existing and proposed sidewalks”. In general the applicant has provided connections to the existing and proposed sidewalks, however not in same way one would think of a traditional downtown with an entrance located along the road. General Design Standards, cont. Although the plan shows a monument sign and some landscaping, it does not do a good job of designing a space with gateway elements to showcase the area as a key entry point into downtown. There is sufficient space located at the southwest corner of the site to provide a gateway element that is encouraged in the guidelines. The guidelines also encourage landscaping along the roads and sidewalks. Parking 45 parking spaces required 22 parking spaces proposed Although staff believes a reduced number is reasonable, 22 parking spaces is too low for the size of the building Retail should have at least 4 spaces/1,000 sq ft of building Building size is to big to provide adequately provide parking for a typical retail use. If the building size is reduced and placed differently on the property, it’s in staff’s opinion that an adequate amount of parking can be provided. Setbacks Required Front, 10 feet Side, 0 feet Rear, 30 feet The property is a corner lot, it has 2 fronts and 2 sides The applicant is showing the building 9 feet, at the closest, from the front property line along Highway 61. This does not include the 8 feet of additional right -of- way along Highway 61. A variance would be required for this front yard setback. Setback, cont. The landscape ordinance requires a 10 foot landscaped area around parking lots. The parking lot encroaches on the setback requirement along the east side of the lot. A variance would be required for this front yard setback. All other setback requirements are met. Setbacks, cont. The downtown design guidelines encourage a zero lot line for buildings along the road to create the traditional downtown main street atmosphere. It’s in staff’s opinion that the sketch plan does not create a main street atmosphere because of the building placement. Planning Commission Update The building is to large for the site Uncomfortable with the variance requests They encourages the applicant to reduce the building size and to eliminate the setback variances and to provide adequate parking. They understood the applicant desire to place the building in that location, but questioned whether it met the downtown guidelines. Review downtown plan and design guidelines Backs of building at the street Key property in downtown EDA Update Discussion on building placement One side abuts Highway 61 Some felt this was a compromise to meet the downtown design guidelines Setback variances Some commissioners were comfortable with the request, but referred to the PC. Parking variance Some Commissioners felt the parking lot configuration and number of parking spaces were sufficient for the auto parts store use. Staff explained that the site would need to be designed to accommodate a typical retail use. EDA Update, Cont The EDA generally recognized that this property is important to downtown and wanted to make sure that the building architecture and design meets the intent of downtown plan and design guidelines. There were a couple Commissioners that did not feel the building placement and architecture met the downtown plan and design guidelines Conclusion There are details on the plan that have been fully evaluated since this is a sketch plan application. At the time a site plan application is submitted, they will be further evaluated with additional information that will be required. It’s in staff’s opinion, because of the building orientation and placement, site plan layout and design, and building architecture and design, the sketch plan does not meet the intent of the downtown plan and design guidelines. Conclusion, Cont Some items the staff would like to see: 1.Move the building to the corner 2.Smaller building footprint 3.Adequate parking for a typical retail user 4.Four sided architecture with design elements that meet the downtown design guidelines 5.Gateway and pedestrian or oriented elements into the site design Recommendation Staff recommends that the EDA provide feedback on the sketch plan to Mark Wold. Below are areas Mr. Wold would like feedback on: Orientation/placement of the building on the property as it relates to the design guidelines Building architecture Variance from parking requirements Variance from setback requirements 147TH FO R E S T 147TH