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

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setback lines. The City Council will be reviewing the proposed language at their meeting on September 23, 2003. The grading, drainage, landscaping,, and utility plans are generally acceptable subject to the comments contained in the Staff Review Letter dated September 12, 2003, Revised September 19, 2003 The proposed TC-3 District requires buildings to be 2-3 stories in height. The applicant is proposing a two-story building for the school. In accordance with stated goals of the Town Center project, the applicant has submitted detailed information regarding architecture of the school building (see Project Narrative). The applicant is proposing to utilize earth tone precast concrete panels on the south, west, and east facades. The facades will utilize 16 inch by 16 inch scoring patterns and exposed aggregate to accent the panels. The north side of the building, which will serve as the "front door" of the school, will incorporate brick, split face concrete block, and glass in the exterior. The applicant is showing an angled canopy that helps define the entrance and gives the elevation some angles to add diversity to the wide span of the building. The building will have two glass-enclosed stairwells on the north elevation which, besides providing an aesthetically pleasing component of the building, also provides for variety in the building span. In reviewing the architecture for the proposed building, Staff has used the latest draft of the Town Center Development Guidelines. Staff has included detailed comments regarding the application of the Development Guidelines to the site plan in the Staff Review Letter. After responding to initial staff comments, the Site Plan now substantially complies with the Guidelines. The following is a discussion of the few areas where there remain a discrepancy between the site plan and Guidelines: The Guidelines state' that the fagade along primary streets should have at least 60% transparency. The School has frontage along two primary streets, Ramsey Parkway and Ramsey Blvd. Along Ramsey Parkway (north elevation) , this requirement is being met. It does appear to staff that the frontage along Ramsey Blvd. (east elevation) is below this 60% threshold. However, a mitigating factor is the distance of the building from Ramsey Blvd. (205 feet to the right-of-way) and the presence of the playground equipment and a parking lot Therefore, Staff feels that the Guidelines regarding transparency should not apply to the eastern elevation. The Guidelines require that at least 40% of the fagade along Ramsey Blvd. be comprised of brick. Once again, there may be a mitigating factor given the distance of the building from the road, and Staff feels that this guideline should not apply to the eastern elevation. In addition to setbacks required in the Zoning District, the Guidelines state that all buildings in the TC-3 District should have a build-to line from 0 feet to 25 feet. The proposed building does not meet these guidelines. The building is located 60 feet and 40 feet from the front and rear lot lines respectively. The distance is even greater for the eastern and western sides of the buildings. While keeping buildings close to streets is highly desirable in the Town Center, it may not be very practical for a school facility. The school needs to have parking