Agenda - Council - 04/26/2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A2016-8 Staff Report April 5, 2016 Page 10 of 12 Building Materials — The proposed townhomes will not meet the exterior material requirements for the R-3 Medium and High Density residential district. The proposed office building does meet the exterior material requirements for the B-4 Limited Business district. The office building, which fronts onto and is more visible from Highway 10, will include cultured stone along the lower portion of the facade. Brick will be used in areas to define prominent architectural features, such as the variation in roof lines. The use of cultured stone and brick has been incorporated on other elevations around prominent architectural features and near the entrances of the building. The remaining facade will be lap siding with shake style asphalt shingles on the roof. The proposed townhomes will be constructed to be compatible with the office building, and will use the same types of building materials. Staff believes that the departures of these requirements of the underlying zoning district are justified as they are compatible with the design of the overall development and still produce a product that will look appealing and fit with the general character of the surrounding area. 3. The proposed development is designed in such a manner as to form a desirable and unified environment within its own boundaries. The project area is 3.8 acres, and has been split into two lots to separate the mixed land uses that are included in the development. The proposed development has been designed in such a manner as to create desirable relationship between the buildings that will be located on the site. The residential uses will be setback further from Highway 10 to create separation form the roadway, and have also been located on the lot to take advantage of the views of the Mississippi River. The office use in the development has been located closer to Highway 10, which is a more suitable location for that type of use and building. The shared drive lanes and parking areas throughout the development will reduce the overall need for parking and the impervious surface coverage, while still providing the minimum number of parking spaces for the land uses. The occupants of the residential uses will have access to the Mississippi River, and will be in close proximity to open space and park land. For the reasons described above, staff believes that the proposed development is desirable in form and creates a unified environment within its own boundaries. 4. The development will not create an excessive burden on parks, schools, streets, or other public facilities and utilities, which serve or are proposed to serve the development. The development plan has been reviewed by the city's engineering, fire and building departments. The City of Anoka is planning to provide upgraded public utilities to the site that will serve the development, and these utilities will connect in to the existing system. There will be no impact on levels of service elsewhere in the city. The development has also been planned to allow for the future construction of Highway 10 improvements that are included in the Anoka Solution plans. The development should not create an excess burden on parks. Because the development will be used as a counseling center and there will be no families living in the residential units, there will be no impact on the schools.