Agenda - Council - 09/23/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Riverview Office Suites - Site Plafi August 29, 2003 Revised September 19, 2003 Page 2 of 3 Landscaping: The revised landscaping plan is generally acceptable. While the minimum number of plantings is short of what City Code currently requires (for shrubs), the intent of the plantings is being met. All species indicated in the species palette are considered to be either acceptable or preferred as outlined in the Ramsey Tree Book. Furthermore, all sizes indicated in the species palette meet the minimum requirements. The intent of the City's planting requirements is to ensure sufficient plantings around the building(s), parking areas, and public roads. There are adequate shrub plantings that encompass the entire building as well as some decorative plantings around the proposed sign in the northwest comer. Furthermore, the trees are situated to essentially encompass the perimeter of the lot. Staff, however, is recommending that at least one additional deciduous species be included in the species palette. This will reduce the number of Sugar Maples on site, which, in turn, will help provide some resistance to diseases and/or insects. There is still some concern with regard to the bufferyard screening. The minimum number of required trees (eight) is being satisfied. HoWever, this includes a combination of deciduous and coniferous trees. Staff is recommending that the four (4) Sugar Maples south of the detention pond be exchanged with five (5) of the conifers to the north of the pond. This would include three (3) Balsam Firs and two (2) Colorado Blue Spruces as shown on the plan (the fifth conifer should be located by the southeast comer of the detention pond). This will provide year-round screening for the residential properties to the south and west of this parcel as well as create an inconspicuous setting for the pond itself. Architectural Standards: City Code restricts building height to 35 feet and exterior wall finishes to natural or prefabricated brick or stone or pre-cast concrete panels or some other material approved by City Council. The submitted building elevations appear to meet both requirements. Wa: te Storage: City Code requires that all solid waste and refuse receptacles be stored within a completely screened structure or container. The submitted site plan appears to meet this requirement. Off-Street Parking - Spaces Required: City Code requires one parking space per 300 square feet of office floor space. The submitted site plan indicates 41 parking spaces (City Code requires 34 spaces). Lighting: Sheet L1 contains the landscape and lighting plan v~ich proposes four 150-watt, high- pressure sodium wall pack lighting units with down cast shield's. Shop drawings for the wall pack lighting units should be submitted for review to ensure that they meet the City's commercial lighting standards. Drainage and Grading: The grading and drainage plan prol~oses to direct the parking lot runoff and that of half the building overland to two catch basins which transmit the stormwater into a detention pond located along the southern property line. This pond has been designed to hold a 100-year storm event. This stormwater pond will be normally dry and have a depth of three feet. An emergency spillway has been provided from this pond into the roadside ditch system in case of a larger storm event. "