Agenda - Council - 04/27/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # ~_~ REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO AN APPROVED SITE PLAN; CASE OF PRECISE METALCRAFT By: Amy Geisler, Associate Planner Chris Anderson, Community Development Assistant Background: On August 26, 2003 Precise Metalcraft received site plan approval for a 12,533-square-foot manufacturing/office building on Radium St. between McKinley St. and 140th Ave. Precise Metalcraft is now ready to install the landscaping on their site, and is seeking an amendment to the landscaping plan previously approved by the City Council. The following items are enclosed for your information: a) b) c) d) e) f) Site location map Approved landscaping plan Proposed landscaping plan City Council minutes dated August 26, 2003 Planning Commission minutes dated August 7, 2003 Letters from the Applicant's landscaping and insurance companies Notification: Site Plans do not require a public hearing. Observations: Several commercial and industrial site plans were approved by the City Council in 2003, which were reviewed and approved under then-new Commercial and Industrial Zoning Requirements. It quickly became apparent that the shrub requirements in the new code were excessive and would be difficult to apply in new development. On several of these site plans, staff received direction to negotiate a more reasonable shrub requirement with applicants on a case-by-case basis. Based on this experience, staff is in the process of updating landscaping requirements in the Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts to include a more reasonable shrub requirement and a slight reduction in the tree requirement. Precise Metalcraft's approved landscaping plan shows a total of 25 trees and 100 shrubs, which meets current landscaping requirements in the E-2 Employment District. Under the new landscaping requirements for the E-2 District, a total of 21 trees and 41 shrubs would be required for this project. The applicant has submitted a revised plan-that shows a total of 55 shrubs and 10 trees. Staff met with the applicant on-site to evaluate the proposed amendments and review the site's landscaping potential. Staff and the applicant are in agreement on the number and placement of shrubs on the site, with the exception of the north property line. The applicant is concerned that trees planted along this property line will be in standing water from the drainage ditch and may cause damage to cars in the parking lot. It is staff's opinion that there is sufficient room to plant some trees along this property line. The drainage ditch is not intended to act as a holding pond and will not hold water for long periods of time. There are also tree species that can be planted that are more compatible with any standing water that may occur.