Minutes - Council - 05/25/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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even though they include extra hours. Next year the City will not be eligible for the grant and there will be a decrease in those numbers. Case #5: Request for Site Plan Review; Case of Sharp and Associates Assistant Community Development Director Trudgeon explained Sharp and Associates is proposing to construct a 3,825 square foot office and warehouse building that will be occupied by Northern Technologies Inc. (NTI) on the property generally located at the comer of 141st Avenue and Basalt Street. The new office and warehouse building is located in the E-1 Employment District and is considered a permitted use in this district. The development of NTI on the subject property is a direct result of a City initiated redevelopment project. The project will receive Tax Increment Financing assistance. The landscaping, grading and drainage plan is acceptable in accordance with the City Staff Review Letter. The applicant is requesting a deviation from City Code related to the sod and irrigation requirement. City Code states that commercial developments must install sod and irrigation system on all areas that are not covered by building and pavement. The applicant would like to keep a portion of the site in its natural state. It is staff's opinion that since the City is providing TIF assistance for this development they should at a minimum be required to install seed and an irrigation system. The City is working diligently to provide high quality development within the industrial areas and it would seem counter productive to allow developments to occur that do not exhibit high quality buildings and site area. The Planning Commission reviewed this site plan and recommended approval contingent upon compliance with the City Staff Review Letter dated April 30, 2004, revised May 21, 2004. Dennis Sharp of Sharp and Associates stated they are proposing this building for Northern Technologies. The expansion area to the east is what is in question. They are not asking that the area under discussiou not be seeded; they are requesting not to irrigate it because it will be used roi' expansion. Counci hncmber Elvig indicated being on the Architectural Review Board in Anoka he is familiar with this issue, and they have an ordinance regarding how long the grass can be kept. If the grass is too long they have run into problems with varmints. The ordinance requires that every tlm'ee mowings they knock it down so it looks more kept. Mr. Sharp stated this is just relating to the area to the east of the parking area and the building. They have done this a lot, and it will be kept mowed and looking nice. With some of their own buildings they even mow the City property, such as around the pond on Ramsey Boulevard. He stated it is a waste to irrigate this whole area. Assistant Community Development Director Trudgeon stated he understands the need for future expansion that could go to the east. However, there are still methods to put the irrigation spigots around the perimeter of the building that could spray in that area and not affect the expansion area. Councilmember Elvig indicated he would be in favor of the irrigation, as there is a neighboring property that will be affected by drift. City Council/May 25, 2004 Page 12 of 27