Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/07/2002

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The principal structure meets the front yard, rear yard, and side yard setbacks established in the Industrial district. The Industrial district restricts lot coverage to 35%, the site plan is proposing to construct a total of 15,000 square feet of building space on 4.6 acres, which equates to approximately a 7.5% lot coverage. The site will derive two (2) access points from the extension of 156t~ Avenue. City Code requires all driveways and off-street parking areas to be paved and finished with B- 6/12 concrete curbing. The site plan indicates that the employee/customer parking area and the loading berth area will be surfaced with bituminous pavement. According to the site plan the customer/employee parking area will be finished with concrete curbing and the loading berth area will be absent of the required concrete curbing. The site plan is also indicating an "Unpaved" area that is proposing to be surfaced with gravel and will not be finished with concrete curbing. It is Staff's understanding that the applicant anticipates constructing a future addition within the next 3-Syears that would consist of approximately 25,000-35,000 square feet of office/warehouse space therefore the applicant would like to deviate from the City Code requirement to pave and concrete curb the entire parcel. Deviation from the required bituminous pavement and concrete curbing will require City Council approval. Staff is recommending that the "Unpaved" area identified on the site plan be surfaced with bituminous pavement and finished with concrete curbing. The proposed development is subject to the review and permitting of the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (WMO). The exterior building materials for the principal structure are proposing to consist of rock face concrete block with a pre-finished metal coping accent; this meets City Code requirements. The landscaping plan is acceptable, Staff is requesting that additional tree plantings be included along the east, south and west property lines. The facility will be served by on-site sewer and water facilities. The City adopted the 2001 Comprehensive Plan on December 18, 2001. The Comprehensive Plan includes a general policy stating that new commercial/industrial developments should be serviced by urban services. Since municipal services are not available to the site, staff is recommending that the development permit require connection to urban services within 2 years of availability. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has begun a TH 10 Interregional Corridor Management Plan for State Highway. #10. Howard R. Green Company recently made a presentation to the City showing different options for the portion of Highway #10 located in the City of Ramsey. One option includes an expressway that would eventually be converted to a freeway. Another option the City may be presented with is to implement the freeway system without going through the phasing plan of an expressway then converting to a freeway. The exact alignment of the expressway/freeway has not yet been determined, however it would appear that MnDot prefers the northernmost alignment that is immediately adjacent to the BNSF Rail system. The City Council adopted a resolution on January 8, 2002 stating the City's support