Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/07/1998

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Accessory Building: City Code also restricts acccssory buildings to 30% of the area of the principal building unless otherwise approved by Council. The accessory building in the new plan is 35.6% of the area of the principal building. This is a reduction from the 39% (- 3.4%) shown in the previous plan. Staff again recommends approval of the slight overage in accessory building size when it is developed. Landscaping and Screening: Staff recommended that tree planting along Radium Street, and tree plantings and some berming in the southeast comer of the site be intensified to provide more effective screening of the loading berths that face or may face public streets. The new plan shows both fewer loading docks on the west side of the property and increased plantings along Radium Street and McKinley Street (16 more trees and three fewer shrubs). However, adequate landscaping still is not planned for the east property line to screen the loading docks from the adjacent property (Anoka Industrial Park). Staff will work with Northern Airgas to meet the same standards we asked of the developer of the adjacent property to the north, Peck Properties. In that case we asked the developer to install clusters of landscaping for screening and future development on the Anoka side will reciprocate with staggered clusters. Also, installation of an irrigation system is required under the covenants of the Business Park 95 Addition and will protect the landscaping. The new site plan proposes to restore disturbed areas after grading with top soil and seed. The previous plan did not include this proposal. Waste Storage: City Code requires dumpsters to be either stored indoors or in a completely screened enclosure outdoors. The location of the of the trash enclosure is noted on the site plan; the construction materials must be identified on the site plan to verify screening capability. Off-Street Parking - Spaces Required: City Code requires one parking space for every person on the maximum work shift. The new site plan identifies 55 employees and 66 parking spaces. These are reduced from the previous plan that identified 57 employees and 86 parking stalls (- 2 employees/- 20 stalls). Loading Berth: The design of loading docks on the west side of the building has been improved by reducing the number of loading garages, and replacing the painted guidelines on the pavement with curbing to control access. Drainage and Grading: A revised grading plan dated 03/06/98 prepared by Ronald Dahken has been submitted for review. The following comments are offered. The pipe system on the southern comer of the site is proposed to discharge into the existing 30" storm sewer. This storm sewer does not have the capacity to handle the discharge of a 21" pipe. CB4 should be directed to discharge into CB5, and the downstream piping increased in size accordingly.