Minutes - Planning Commission - 02/06/2003

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Private streets through the association-maintained cottages. Principal Planner Trudgeon demonstrated how the long private street would split off to one-way streets, with greenspace inside. He indicated the street was 24 feet at minimum, with no on-street parking. Commissioner Johnson asked if the City Council wanted the road taken further north. Principal Planner Trudgeon indicated they wanted the private road for additional greenspace. He stated the layout on page 37 showed a public road at a narrower width, but Staff was not comfortable with that, so the developer went with a private road. Principal Planner Trudgeon noted that the PUD ordinance requires that the development have either 20 percent public open space and/or 50 percent private and open space. He advised that the Park Commission did not recommend the provision of public open space within the development, mostly due to the existence of a planned park at the corner of the Sunwood Drive and Sunfish Lake Boulevard. He stated that Staff is requesting that the development have at least 50 percent private open and green space, and currently the development shows 64 percent open and green space. Principal Planner Trudgeon explained that as part of the PUD process, the applicant is required to submit a preliminary site plan and architectural elevations. He stated that typically, multi-family developments require site plan review. However since the plat is comprised of single-family units and detached townhomes a site plan is not required, therefore Staff will be using the PUD process to conduct a site plan review. He indicated that in general, the site plan is dependent on what is allowed as part of the PUD and what is shown on the preliminary plat. He stated that the landscaping plan, as shown, is deficient in the number of plantings required under the ordinance, and Staff will be working with the developer to correct this. He stated the architectural elevations of the units that will be used in the development are at a minimum of 1,545 square feet in size, which exceeds the requirements under the ordinance. He indicated the exterior materials will be of vinyl siding and asphalt shingling on the roof. He noted that the proposed units will have front porches. Principal Planner Trudgeon explained that Staff had concerns with the road widths, from a safety perspective. He stated that City Engineering, Public Works, Police Department and Fire Department Staff expressed concerns about the use of narrower roads than typically is required in Ramsey residential subdivisions. He indicated they felt that the narrower roads do not provide for efficient movement of vehicles, which leads to operational concerns regarding snow plowing and the provision of public safety services, and would create a precedent for narrower roads in other residential developments within Ramsey. Principal Planner Trudgeon indicated that a group of Staff had gone to Stillwater to view Liberty on the Lake, and had a fire truck drive the roads, however Staff felt they had not had time to sort through the trip and determine their views on the use of narrow roads such as these. He stated that Staff thinks they may have some ideas, but it leaves the Planning Commission in a tough situation tonight, as Staff cannot make a solid recommendation. He indicated there were representatives here tonight from the other City departments in case the Commission has any questions. Planning Commission/February 6, 2003 Page 8 of 26