Agenda - Council - 11/23/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CC Regular Session Date: 11/23/2010 By: Tim Gladhill Community Development Information Title: Request for Preliminary Site Plan Approval of Residence at The COR Item #: 7. 6. Background: F & C Development, Inc. has applied for site plan review for a four (4) story, 230 unit apartment complex in The COR, located west of and in front of the existing municipal parking ramp. Notification: Although notification is not required for site plan review, properties within 700 feet were notified via Standard US Mail of the associated Major Plat, and said Public Hearing was properly notified in the Anoka County Union. Observations: The project is part of the COR One major plat being processed by the City of Ramsey Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The proposed lot will be approximately 3.03 acres in size. The property is zoned TC -1, a sub - district consisting of a mix of residential, retail, service, professional, community service, recreational and similar uses on every block near, and within easy walking distance of the rail station. Total finished square feet when completed will be approximately 254,534 square feet. The minimum floor area ratio in this district .75; the proposed net floor area rato is 1.92. The COR encourages shared and structured parking to maximize building coverages and maximize density, especially in the TC -1 sub - district. The TC -1 district regulations require two (2) to five (5) story buildings; the proposed building is four (4) stories. The TC -1 Sub - District setback from street is 0 -5 feet. According to City Code, at least 60% of the proposed building must be within the maximum setback. The proposed setback of the building appears to be five (5) feet from the proposed extension of the setback, which is proposed as the `build -to line'. Approximately four (4) feet of sidewalk is required on private property, necessitating a sidewalk easement. This essentially increases the `public realm' into the Subject Property. The overall intent of placing structures close to the public area is still met, but the building is pushed further away from the right of way due to the extension of the sidewalk. Staff has forwarded a proposed ordinance to allow an alternative setback when sidewalks are on private property to allow green /soft space between the sidewalk and the building. The site will derive public access from Sunwood and Civic Center Drives. The site will share an access on Sunwood and Civic Center Drive with a proposed site plan for Suite Living at The COR, reviewed separately. In addition, the site will access parking in the municipal parking ramp. Shared /ramp accesses shall be encumbered by shared access easements as necessary. The City reserves the right to amend any full access to a right -in, right -out movement as traffic patterns or public safety warrant. The TC -1 sub- district sets a maximum parking space standard of two (2) per residential unit; which equates to 458 spaces in this case. The site plan proposes sixteen (16) on -site parking spaces, with additional on- street capacity. A majority of the parking will be accommodated by a dedicated parking agreement in the existing municipal ramp. The ramp can accommodate 790 parking spaces: 350 dedicated for transit use, 300 proposed for Residence at The COR, and 106 for Municipal Center use. This leaves 34 additional spaces for use in the ramp. Staff recommends there will be adequate parking remaining in the ramp, as this ramp was always envisioned to accommodate parking for abutting uses.