Minutes - Planning Commission - 01/03/2002

Home

measures such as require surmountable curbs and no disturbance (i.e. no cutting of grass) of nesting areas. He said that the City Staff recommends preliminary plat approval subject to compliance with City Staff Review Letter dated December 28, 2001, and rezoning the parcel to R-l, R-3U, and MR. Citizen Input Mike Black of Royal Oaks Realty stated his company was here last June with the same proposal and the Planning Commission recommended approval at that time. At the subsequent City Council meeting, they withdrew the application to rezone and have been working closely with Staff since then. He sought to highlight some of the changes to the plan over the previous plan. He explained it is no longer proposed as a PUD. He said the plan reflects compliance with land use categories established in the new Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Black stated there is a reduction in the overall density of the development. The type of townhomes was a concern but now they are offering two different plans. They have added some open space, which the Council had asked for. The corridor is widened along the open space by the trail. By doing so, the grading is more limited in that area. Mr. Black stated his firm listened to the City's concerns regarding townhouse site plans and access to townhouses. The previous comments made by the engineering staff regarding the orientation of the townhouses relative to the road are satisfied. He commented that they are confident any remaining issues can be worked out. Mr. Black stated his company strongly believes in tree preservation. They will begin grading and cautiously move to take out the trees. Then they will look at the significant trees with the City Forester. He stated they have submitted a detailed plan. Commissioner Sweet questioned if Royal Oaks Realty is amenable to doing the biological review that has been recommended by Pro-Source. Mr. Black said they would be. Commissioner Sweet questioned why the developer is requesting to borrow density from the apartment area rather than comply with the density requirements of the townhome area. Mr. Black explained that the Comp Plan calls for a larger area to be utilized for high density than what their plan is showing. They would be allowed more units than they are proposing if they followed the land use district alignments of the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Johnson suggested that the protection that is put around the drainage ponds should be making them more attractive especially for the person that is immediately adjacent to it. Mr. Black replied they are willing to do that. Planning Commission/January 3, 2002 Page 8 of 18