Agenda - Council - 10/14/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The E-1 Employment District also requires a twenty (20) foot green space along all public roads. As part of the original site improvements, sod and a line of trees were installed along the entire edge of 156 Ih Ave, which ,satisfies the green space requirement. A bufferyard, which is intended to provide additional screening between varying commercial/industrial uses, .is also required. The property to the south of this site is zoned B-2 Highway Business District. Therefore, a thirty-five (3 5) foot bufferyard with additional plantings (an additional 20% of the required plantings as outlined in City Code) will need to be provided. According to the submitted drawing and. the original site plan, the building and existing bituminous area, as well as the proposed additional outdoor storage area, are thirty-five (3 5) feet from the southern property line. Furthermore, as part of the original improvements, there were at least seven (7) deciduous trees that were installed adjacent to this unimproved area. In reviewing the original site plan case, it appears that these plantings were installed to provide additional screening between the differing uses. ' Funding Source: Since this particular request did not include any new building construction, there were no fees collected frons, the applicant as there would be with a standard site plan application. Therefore, the processing of this request is considered part of Staff's regular duties. Recommendation: Staff is recommending that the additional storage area include a concrete or bituminous surface and B6/12 concrete curbing to be' consistent with past practice and the intent of the ordinance. In fact, in 2005 there was a request very similar to this one (albeit concerning a separate parcel) that also involved the prospective buyer (although in 2005, Rain for Rent was looking to lease property). While the negotiations between Rain' for Rent and the property owner in that case broke down, ' Staff s recommendation was the same: the storage area needed to be surfaced with concrete or asphalt and include the B6/12 concrete curbing as that is ,the intent of City Code. However, considering the current economic times and financial uncertainties, it would seem reasonable to consider some sort of multi-year phasing plan, which would provide the applicant and their prospective buyer additional time to accomplish this. Council Action: Motion to deny the request for a waiver to the surfacing requirement. -or- Motion to approve the request for a waiver to the surfacing requirement and permit the additional outside storage area to be surfaced with class V gravel or equivalent material. Review Checklist: Copies to: City Administrator City Attorney Community Development Director CC 10.14.2008 —338—