Agenda - Council Work Session - 09/04/2012

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A2012 -5 Staff Report May 1, 2012 Page 3 of 12 standards that the city has established in the Main Street Mixed Use and Transit Oriented Development districts. Light emitted must meet a .1 foot candle power at residential property lines and .5 foot candle power at commercial property lines. Landscaping is required for any areas that are not covered by impervious surface. A landscape plan must be submitted as part of any site plan review. Additionally landscaping/screening is required for parking areas to mitigate visual impacts to residential properties to the north and east. Parking areas shall be screened by either vegetation, berm, or building. Parking Requirements — Parking requirements will be based on existing ordinance standards. Generally retail uses require 1 stall /200 sf. of building; offices require 1 stall /250 sf. of building; and restaurants require 1 stall /40 sf. of dining area. Architectural Standards — Building material standards are similar to what is required for the Main Street Mixed Use District. The primary material for each facade shall be brick, stone, rock faced concrete block or similar material. Up to 25% can be of an approved secondary material. Signs — Each business will be allowed wall signage based on building frontage, however if a building has a large frontage, no sign can exceed 200 sf. Monument signs will be permitted for each business on their property and such signs cannot exceed 10' in height and are limited to 40 square feet. Pylon signs are not allowed. One entrance monument sign for the development will be permitted at each of the primary entrances from 7 Avenue and County Road 116. ZONING MAP AMENDMENT The property is currently zoned R -F Rural Farm. The rezoning would change the zoning to B -5 Regional Business. The Planning Commission and City Council must consider the following criteria when considering a change to the zoning classification of a property: 1. Whether the proposed amendment corrects an error or addresses a changing condition, trend or fact. Staff Findings: This land has always been vacant. Since the 1970s this land has been a topic for several different development options however none were ever acted on. In 2006, 200+ acres abutting the subject area were put in a conservation easement and is now known as the Anoka Nature Preserve. After this action the City Council has directed the Planning Commission to look at future land use for the remaining 22.5 and 47 acres east and west of the library. In 2011, the City Council rezoned the 22.5 acres west of the library for residential use. The existing R -F zoning was sufficient for the past and current uses. However, because the City Council wishes to market this land for development that will maximize economic growth in the community, the proposed B -5 zoning is more appropriate.