Agenda - Planning Commission - 07/12/2004 - Special Meeting

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The maximum front yard setback in the TC-2 district is 0-15 feet. The store is proposed to be located at the south boundary of the site, approximately 300 feet back from the Sunwood Drive right-of-way. The Town Center Development Guidelines encourage placement of larger scale buildings along the railroad. The applicants have applied for a variance to the fi'ont yard setback in order to place the grocery store adjacent to the railroad. A total of 428 parking spaces would be required for the uses ultimately proposed for Lots 1 and 2; the site plan is showing 451 spaces. The loading docks are located on the southeast comer of the grocery store building, with a track access from Zeolite. The plan includes a I2 foot high concrete wall to screen the loading dock activity from public view. The grading and utility plans have been reviewed by the Engineering Department and required modifications to the plans are listed in the Staff Review Letter. The Landscape Plan has been reviewed by City Staff and 141 trees and 320 shrubs must be planted in order to meet the landscape requirements for the entire block. The plan submitted includes 102 trees and 348 shrubs; the plan must be modified to include an additional 39 trees. The site plan submittal lacks a lighting plan and a waste storage area plan. The site plan for the grocery store generally confmTns to the Town Center Development Guidelines. The architectural features include diversity in texture, color, projections, recesses, and height. The selected materials include EIFS integraIIy treated with color, brick veneer, split face CMU, precast c'oncrete panels, smooth face aggregate and pre-fin/shed metal accents. Some of these same materials will be used on the fuel pump island and car wash to aesthetically blend in with the main store. The guidelines recommend that 35% of ground level street front facades be glass openings. The amount of glazing on the north wall (Sunwood Drive side), the east wall (Zeolite Street side), and west wall (Armstrong Blvd.) is 21%, 7% and 2%, respectively. The intent of the glass opening guideline is to promote building designs that encourage walking the sidewalks and window shopping. A grocery store, fuel amenity and pharmacy are destination shopping versus a window shopping experience. In addition, the guidelines encourage large scale retail to locate adjacent to the railroad, which is away from sidewalks. For these reasons, City Staff finds the reduced mount of glass openings acceptable. Recommendation: City Staff recommends approval of the preliminary site plan contingent upon compliance with the City Staff review letter. Commission Action: Motion to recommend that City Council approve the preliminary site plan for the Cobum's grocery store in the Ramsey Town Center. Review Checklist: Asst. Community Development Director City Engineer PC: 07/12/04