Minutes - Council - 04/13/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Associate Planner Wald advised the preliminary plat and site plan are proposing a unique development with a variety of town house and condominium units. Staff and the developer have been diligently working together to create a plat that provides for a good street network system while sti !1 allowing for the intricate residential development design that is trying to be achieved. Councilmember Strommen questioned if any of the driveways might have vehicles hanging off into the sidewalk. Associate Planner Wald responded in the negative. Associate Planner Wald stated the proposed development is meeting the off-street parking, open space, townhouse size, and architectural standard requirements established in City Code, with the exception of the two urban townhome units described. Associate Planner Wald reviewed that staff engaged the services of SRF to complete a noise mitigation analysis. The study stated that in order to meet MPCA's daytime decibel standards, a 15 foot high barrier would need to be constructed. The City Council discussed the SRF sound mitigation analysis study at a work session held on March 30, 2004. Staff was directed to look at alternatives to address sound mitigation along Highway #10 with SRF and how the alternatives coincide with MPCA's standards. Staff and Tom Hillstrom, from SRF, discussed the possibility of providing a fence along the proposed retaining walls since these areas are located adjacent to the actual units and outline the proposed ponding areas along Highway #10. Staff also asked Mr. Hillstrom to review the proposed landscaping to determine if the vegetation provides any reduction in noise decibels. The revised noise mitigation analysis shows that providing a six foot barrier along the retaining walls reduces the noise levels by up to three decibels but still exceeds MPCA's daytime standards. Providing an eight foot barrier reduces the noise by up to five decibels but slightly exceeds MPCA's standards. Lastly, SRF reviewed a ten foot barrier within the subject area which resulted in noise reduction of up to eight decibels and two of the five receptors measured one decibel below MPCA's standards. Mr. Hillstrom also reviewed the proposed landscape plan and provided his opinion regarding what effect the landscaping has on noise mitigation. He stated that while the landscaping plan will not substantially lower decibel levels, vegetation has an affect on the perception of traffic noise by removing the visual cue to annoyance in addition to increased privacy and aesthetics. Associate Planner Wald advised that it is staff's opinion that the developer should provide either an eight foot or ten foot privacy fence along the proposed retaining wall areas and adjacent to condominium unit 48. The proposed landscaping plan is providing an extensive number of evergreens and staff believes this will provide some additional noise relief to future residents. Staff would recommend the City require the developer to install a fair amount of 10 to 12 foot tall trees within the Highway 10 corridor instead of the six foot tall trees required in the landscaping section of City Code. Associate Planner Wald stated Engineering and LRRWO have stated some concern regarding the ponding configuration within the development, and approval will be contingent on the City Staff City Council/April 13, 2004 Page 23 of 33