Agenda - Council - 08/25/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Parks and Utilities Supervisor has suggested that consideration be given to including a walking trail connection from the site to the Flintwood Terrace trail on the other side of Dysprosium Street. The Planning Commission reviewed the site plan on August 4. There were several residents from the neighborhood to the south of the senior housing site present at the meeting. They expressed concern for loss of tree cover along the common property line, the proximity of the driveway and garage entrance to the common property line with a suggestion that the building design be reversed on the site to get the longer wing of the facility with the underground garage entrance on the opposite side of the property from the adjacent single family residences, adding two more high-traffic driveways onto Dysprosium rather than County Road #5, and the visual impact of a 3 story apartment building on a hill adjacent to single family homes. In a subsequent meeting with Dunbar Development Corporation, it has been determined that as many trees as possible along the common property line with Flintwood will be preserved and conifer trees will be added to the landscape plan to provide year around screening. The City Engineer stated that he would not'support a proposal that would put another access onto County Road #5 as it is not consistent with the County transportation plan that the City supports. The base grade of the underground garages is 868'; the grade elevation of Flintwood is 877'. Therefore, the residents of Flintwood are at a higher elevation than the underground garages and they will not be looking directly into the garages. In addition, there is a substantial amount of existing tree cover and a proposed retaining wail that will provide visual screening and sound barrier between the two uses. Reversing the building design would require more extensive grading and site preparation in addition to significantly impacting a grove of trees on the comer of Dysprosium and County Road #5. The additional grading and site preparation drive up the cost of the project and force rental prices above market rate. Recommendation: The Planning Commission recommended site plan approval contingent upon compliance with the City Staff Review Letter dated July 30, 1998, an exterior finish of vinyl siding and brick, reversing the building layout with the longer wing and garage entrance oriented towards County Road #5 versus the single family homes to the south, and utilizing the City's light fixture choice at priority intersections to light the two driveway intersections with Dysprosium Street. The City Staff recommends approval of the site plan as proposed and contingent upon compliance with the July 30, 1998 City Staff Review Letter, with all site lighting subject to the approval of the City Engineer.