Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/01/2000

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Staff Review: New Fire Station January 27, 2000 Page 2 of 3 and shrubs being proposed around the site. Staff suggests eliminating the 4 Red Maple trees on the west edge of the parking lot to provide an unobstructed overflow parking and training area. Most of the species selected for this site, especially the trees, do not survive well in Ramsey soils. Please review the attached list of recommended trees and shrubs and make the appropriate substitutions. The final landscape plan should include species, quantity and size of plantings.. Screening: City Code specifies that any non-residential use abutting residential Zoning must provide a 40-foot wide landscaped buffer on the common property line and a 20-foot buffer must be present when a non-residential use is across the street from a residential zone. The proposed site abuts a residential zone on the north and the west, and there is a residential zone on the east side of Armstrong Blvd. The proposed site plan meets all of City Code landscape separation requirements. Waste Storage: City Code requires durr~psters to be either stored indoors or in a completely screened enclosure outdoors. It is staff's understanding that any generated waste will be stored indoors. Off-Street Parking and Driveways - Design: City Code requires that all driveways and parking areas be surfaced with bituminous or concrete and finished with B-612 concrete curbing. Staff is unable to determine if the perimeter of all of the bituminous surface is proposed to be finished with B-612 concrete curbing. Off-Street Parking - Spaces Required: City Code does not recommend a specific number of parking spaces for Fire Stations. City Staff would recommend that at least one parking space be provided for the number of person's that may gather at this building for any given activity. The Fire Chief estimates a maximum of 40 spaces being needed at any give time for fire department related activities. The proposed site plan provides over I00 parking spaces. The Fire Station might also be used as a polling station during elections; the number of parking spaces proposed will accommodate such activities. Drainage and Grading: A verbal report on drainage and grading issues will be given by the City Engineer at the Planning Commission meeting. Architectural Standards: The building does not exceed the 35-foot height limit, however the plan includes a decorative facade on the hose tower that will extend beyond the 35-foot height restriction. Staff does not foresee a problem with the faCade extending beyond the 35 foot height restriction. However, the Fire Chief is willing to have the decorative, metal fagade removed if the Planning Commission and City Council desires. The proposed building will be constructed of brick, decorative metal panels, and cast stone panels.