Agenda - Council - 05/28/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-238- the units will contain 2 bedrooms and all have the potential for a 3~d bedroom. The finished floor areas are approximately 1,350 square feet, which exceeds City Code requirements. Current performance standards contained in City Code for medium density neighborhoods are difficult to apply to the development trends of today, specifically town_homes. Whenever possible, City Staff attempts to work with developers to achieve plat designs that will more closely reflect the revised performance standards currently under consideration tbr adoption. The current dram of the medium density residential development performance standards proposes a 30 ~tbot structure setback from plat boundaries and a minimum 15 foot separation between buildings. The buildings in Suntlower Ridge are proposed ro be 30-35 feet away from plat boundaries and all structures are at least 20 feet apart. The structures on the private driveway collectors meet the 25 foot setback from back of curb. The structures that front on the public streets are currently subject to a 35 foot setback from the righbof-way; the proposed setback in the new ordinance will require a 25 tbot setback; the site plan is proposing a 30 foot setback from right-of-way. Because the revised setback of 25 feet has not yet 'been adopted, the Developer did apply tbr and receive a 5 foot variance to the current 35 foot requirement. The town_house units will consist of 4 and 6-unit row~style walkout units. The units will have an exterior of vinyl siding with brick accents around the entrances. The units meet the minimum square t'0otage required under City Ordinances. The units will range from 1,361 to 1,875 square feet in finished space. Under City Ordinances, the maximum height for structures is 35 feet. The applicant will be providing intbrmation verifying the proposed height. of the units. The City policy has been to require at least one tree per unit and City Code requires a 15 foot wide screened buffer area when multiple family developments abut a single family district. Screening must be at least 5 feet tall and may consist of either fencing, landscaping, or berming, or any combination thereo~: The Landscape Plan reviewed by the Plarming Commission on May 2''~ contained 126 trees, 882 shrubs and a 4 ~bot berm on the west property line. The Planning Commission advised Oakwood that the minimum number of trees required is 126 and because ti'ds development abuts a single family district on the west, more than the minimum should be provided, in addition to increasing the berm height from 4 to 5 feet. On May 23, City Staff received a revised Landscape Plan that maintained the 882 shrubs originally proposed, increased the number of trees to 159, and increased the berm from 4 to 5 feet. City Staff is recommending that the Landscape Plan be further revised to increase the diversity of species utilized in both trees and shrubs, make sure the species are those that do well in Ramsey soils, and increasing the shrub size to ,~3 gallon. On May 2, the Planning Commission was also apprised of the fact that pursuant to discussions with the developer regarding the pros and cons of surmountable versus barrier type concrete curbing, the City Engineer has determined that surmountable concrete curbing is acceptable. The City Staff review letter has been modified accordingly (refer to May 23, 2002 revision). Grading and Utility Plans are reviewed as part of the preliminary plat process. Sidewalks are being provided on one side of all of the public streets and a trail will be constructed parallel to Alpine Drive, along the entire south boundary of the plat. I I I ! i i I I I ! I I I i