Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/05/2004

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60 units will have architectural articulation and the units themselves will vary in setbacks from the sidewalk in each building. Further review of the articulation and staggering of buildings will be addressed as part of site plan review. The TC4-b Zoning District requires the following setbacks Front Yard (rain-max) 0-20 feet Side Yard Rear Yard Building Setback None, unless required by building code None, unless required by building code It was discussed at the December 2003 Planning Commission meeting that setbacks for the units will be measured from the back of the sidewalk to the unit. The preliminary plat:shows all of the row house townhome units meeting this setback with the exception of Lots 8, 9, and 10 of Block 1. Due to the curve in the right-of-way of East Ramsey Parkway the sidewalk is further than 20 feet from the front of the units. Please move the sidewalk in this area to bring the edge of the sidewalk within 20 feet of the front of the units. The setbacks for the back to back units (condos) will be unable to meet the 20' front setback since the City will require that these driveways serving these units be 25 feet in length. Since the driveway and the front door will be located on the front of the unit, the setback will be 25 feet. Staff finds this setback acceptable. A concern raised by Staff at the December Planning Commission meeting was the length of the proposed driveways. After discussion with the Developer and the City Council, staff finds the following situation acceptable. For units that have a front door on a public street, driveways less than 25 feet will be allowed. The length of the driveways are shown on Sheet 7A of the preliminary plat submittal. For the record, the Lots that will be able to driveways less that 25 feet are Lots 1-25, Block 1 and Lots 1-34, Block 2. Lots 26, 43, Block 1, while technically having front doors on Ramsey Blvd. (CSAH 56), wilt be required to have driveways at least 25 feet in length since it is undesirable to have visitors and/or residents parking on Ramsey Blvd. As discussed as part of the setback discussion for the back-to-back units, all driveways for the condominiums will meet the 25-foot length requirement. The plat shows a combination of public and private streets. As directed by Staff as part of sketch plan review, a public street (Olivne St.) bisects the development and the northern east-west road (146~h Ave.) is now public. All public streets will be at least 32 feet wide in accordance with City street standards. There are some technical corrections that need to be changed on the street plans as described in the City Staff Review Letter. The Developer has proposed several areas of open space. The western open space will be behind the row house units and will contain landscaping, an arbor, benches and special pavers. This open space will also contain two "rain gardens" that will treat the stormwater runoff prior to discharge into the stormwater system. The open spaces to the east comprise or' two green connections. The northern open space will contain a trail with pavers, landscaping, and benches. The southern open space will serve mostly as a trail corridor. The grading and drainage plan was reviewed and generally conforms to city standards. There are few more items relating to the drainage plant that need to be provided to City Staff prior to the City Council approval that are described in the City Staff Review Letter. The project is subject to the review and perlnitting process of tile Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (WMO). Staff is requesting some changes to the utili~ plans to conform with City standards. Additional easements will need to be provided on the plat where the public utilities will be located.