Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/06/1999

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· Life Fitness Site Review April 1, 1999 Page 3 of 4 Screening: This property is surrounded by industrial zoned properties on the north, south and west. There is a residential subdivision to the east across Sunfish Lake Boulevard NW. No screening is required where industrial property is surrounded by industrial property, and the City Code regarding non-residential performance standards states that screening need not be provided where the use is across the street and the front of the non-commercial property faces the residential use. Landscaping: The Landscape plan is acceptable to City staff with two recommended additions. City staff recommends that the applicant transplant the existing Eastern Red Cedar trees deemed movable from the north half of the site to the vicinity of the storm pond. Also, City staff recommends seeding with MnDOT praire grass mixture along the wetland on the west side of the property. The Landscape Plan should be modified accordingly. Waste Storage: The plan does not indicate the waste storage location, except for a compactor on the south side of the building. If there is to be additional waste storage (i.e. dumpsters) located outside, the applicant must indicate the intended location. City Code requires that outside waste storage is located in the side or rear yard and screened from public view and adjoining properties. Generally this has been done using materials matching the principal building exterior and a wooden vertical gate. Off-Street Parking - Spaces Required: The City Code requires 446 parking stalls. The proposed plan provides 379 spaces with additional space for 82 future stalls, which would bring the total to 461 stalls. It is City staff's recommendation that the 82 stalls indicated as future additional parking be installed at the same time as the other improvements, because the potential risk of a parking shortage would result in vehicles being parked on a high speed limit county road. Off-Street Parking-Design: In accordance with City Code, the off-street parking and maneuvering areas are proposed to be surfaced with bituminous pavement and finished with B6/12 concrete curbing. The parking lot design meets City Code. However, City staff has pointed out to the applicant that there are areas of potential conflict in internal circulation where employee parking may conflict ,ar[th tmek traffic. Off-Street Loading: City Code states that one off-street loading berth of not less than 50 feet must be provided for every business and industrial use with a floor area of more than 10,000 square feet. This project will require a minimum of eleven loading berths. The plan meets requirement.