Agenda - Council - 10/22/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Review Letter: Mallard Ponds Office Building September 27, 2002, Revised October 18, 2002 Page 2 of 4 -288- Setbacks: The building location exceeds the 35-foot front and rear yard and 20-foot side yard setback requirements. City Code requires a 20-foot green space area adjacent to all public roads. The site plan shown does not meet this requirement. The parking area is shown as close as ten feet from the edge of the right-of-way. You have been granted a variance for this encroachment at the October 10, 2002 Board of Adjustment meeting. Screening: The surrounding properties to the north, east, and west are all zoned for residential uses. The property to the south is located in the City of Anoka and is designated for business uses. City Code requires when a business use is adjacent to a residential use (as is the case in this instance), the developer shall provide a 40-foot landscape buffer along the property line. You have applied for a variance to this requirement due to need to meet the parking requirements and the desire of the Mallard Ponds Home Owners Association to have the landscaped buffer on their land. A variance to this requirement was granted at the October 10,-2002 Board of Adjustment meeting. The approved variance required you to provide a 20-foot landscaped buffer on Lot 96, Block 1, Mallard Ponds. A plan showing this buffer must be reviewed and approved by the City of Ramsey before a building permit is issued for the site plan. Landscaping: The landscaping plan shows the installation of 5 overstory trees, 13 coniferous trees, and six ornamental trees. Please provide the City details regarding the type of trees proposed. The landscaping plan also shows 18 planter boxes around the perimeter of the building that will contain one juniper and annuals. The minimum tree count along public streets should be equivalent to one tree per 35 feet of street frontage. This site plan requires I5 trees along the public streets. You are showing 18 trees located adjacent to public right-of-ways. There currently are no trees located on the property. Pedestrian Path: A bituminous path currently exists on the site that was installed as part of the Mallard Ponds development. Staffis requiting that you correct the following issues: a. -A guy wire from a utility pole currently extends over the trail. There should be a minimum of a nine foot clearance under the guy wire. Please indicate how .this will be achieved. b. The right angle turn of the trail near the southern end of the proposed parking lot should be corrected for a better alignment. c. Please provide grade elevations of the existing trail so staff can make sure the elevations are at an appropriate level. It is noted on the grading plan that some of the elevations of the trail will be impacted near the tight angle turn. Please provide further detail on how this area will be restored. Further discussion on the trail matters should be directed to Mark Boos, Parks and Utilities Supervisor at (763) 433-9853. Architectural Standards: City Code restricts building height to 35-feet, the proposed office building will be 24 feet in height, which meets City standards. City Code restricts exterior wall finishes to face brick, natural stone or integrally treated pre-cast concrete panels or other material