Agenda - Council - 06/11/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-76- Principal Planner Trudgeon stated that Eighty Seven LLC has applied for site plan review of a 42-unit townhome development. The property is generally located in the southwest quadrant of T.H. #47 and 153rd Avenue NW and the fee title owner is Blaine Edmundson. The subject property is zoned R-3 Urban Residential District, which, allows up to 7 dwelling units per acre, The property is approximately 8.7 acres in size. When the right-of-way of Alpine Drive and Highway 47 is factored out, the property has 7.1 net acres. The site plan is proposing 42 townhouse units for a net density of 5.91 units per acre. A preliminary plat for the development has been submitted and was approved with conditions by the Planning Commission in April. The proposed townhome structures consist of eight four-unit buildings and two five-unit buildings. City Code restricts lot coverage to 35% and the site plan indicates a total of 47,550 square feet of building space being constructed. Lot coverage on the subject property will be approximately 15%; which meets City Code requirements. The buildings are setback at least 40 feet from the entire perimeter of the parcel. The structures are also setback 25 feet from the edge of the public street right of way. The applicant was granted a 1 O-foot variance from the required 35~foot fi'ont yard setback at the May 2, 2002 Board of Adjustment meeting. The townhome units along private drives are located less than 25 feet from the back of curb, which is contrary to adopted private street policy. The developer is agreeable to rearrange the townhouse units to meet the 25-foot driveway length requirement. The applicant is proposing to construct a temporary cul-de-sac that is approximately 850 feet in length, which exceeds the 600-foot maximum cul-de-sac length established in City Code. The applicant properly applied for a variance and the Board of Adjustment reviewed and approved the variance request on May 2, 2002. The project is subject to the review and permitting process of the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (¥VMO). The development will be required to obtain a permit froln MnDOT showing the post and pre development calculations in order to review any impact on State Highway #47 right-of-way. The City has engaged the services of SRF to do a traffic noise level study on several pending residential proposals along T.H. #47. A sound wall or a combination ofberming and sound wall must be constructed as part of this development. A Landscape Plan has been submitted that is generally acceptable and meets the City's minimum standards. The R3-U Zoning District calls for a fifteen-foot landscaped buffer when a development is adjacent to RI and R2 districts. The landscaping plans shows that there is landscaping proposed to be located in the buffer area. The applicant is proposing to install a fence instead of heavy plantings along the southern boundary line at the request of A1 Kempf who lives immediately south of the subject property. Based on comments and concerns raised by neighbors along the southwestern portion of the subject property, the applicant has agreed to either construct a fence, provide for heavy landscaping, or a combination of landscaping and fencing along the southwestern boundary line. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the site plan contingent upon compliance with City Staff Review Letter dated April 26, 2002 and the applicant working with the neighbors along the southwestern boundary line regarding appropriate screening consisting of either landscaping, fencing, or a combination of the two, Mayor Gamec inquired if they should include the 70 trees requirement in the motion. Principal Plam~er Trudgeon replied that they could. City Council/May 14, 2002 Page 20 of 33