Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/15/2003 - Special Meeting

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15.153 Nowthen Boulevard NW · Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 City Hall: (763) 427-[4/0 · Fax: (763) 427-5543 www.ci.ramsey.mn.us September 12, 2003 Mr. Alan Linoff Academic Investments, [nc. 84 Tenth St. South Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55403 Re: Site Plan - PACT Charter School Dear Mr. Linofi: We are in receipt of a Site Plan, Landscaping, Grading, Utility, and Floor Plans as well as Building Elevations tbr the PACT Charter School prepared by TSP One, Inc. dared September 3, 2003. We offer the fbllowing comments: General: The site plan is:proposing to develop a two-story,71,350 square-foot Charter School on LOt l, Block [ of the proposed Town C.e. nter subdivision. The school will accommodate appro,'dmately 560 students from Kindergarten to 17 Grade. The school is proposed to be located at the southwest quadrant of Ramsey Blvd. and the proposed Ramsey Parkway. Zoning: Tlxe site [s currently zoned E-2. However, the City' Council is currently in the process of rezoning the Town Center area into new zorting districts; TC-1, TC-2, TC-3, TC-4, and TC-5. Even though the Town Center Zoning Districts.have not been of 22cia[l¥ adopted,, staff will be using them for the purpose of site plan review. The school is proposed to be located in TC-3, which a/lows for educational facilities as a conditional use permit. Due to scheduling issues, the public laearmg for the Conditional Use Permit will be held at the Planning Commission meeting of October 2, 2003. The site plan will need to comply with any conditions enumerated in the conditional use permit. F- Lot Coverage: The new lot to be created as part of the Town Center plat will be 5.35 acres in size. The proposed building footprint size is 47,399 square feet, which results in lot .coverage of approximately 20%. The proposed TC-3 District requires a Floor Area Ratio CF.A.Ri) of 0.5. On this particular lot, the F.A.R. requirement would mean that there would have to be 116,525 square feet of building. The school is proposing to have 71,350 square-feet, or a F.A.R. of 0.31. If the area designated fbr play~ounds and tot lots are included (21,616 square feet), the F.A.R. [s 0.40. Staff will need to discuss this matter with the Planning Commission. Since the TC Zoning Code fs not adopted presently and the fact that a school use has needs for open space for recreation and parking, there may some ability to allow for a lesser F.A.R. 35