Minutes - Planning Commission - 02/07/2002

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Jeff Johnson, applicant, stated he has 11.2 acres. He contended there is not a shortage of land. He said he was unsure why the City would look at only the 4.7 acres they are developing. Chairperson Nixt pointed out that the Comprehensive Plan does articulate net developmental land. If this were treated as developable land on a net basis, in order to move this forward, a variance would need to be granted. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Brauer to modify the previous motion and approve the sketch plan of Sunwood Estates for ACCAP and recommend proceeding to final plat stage contingent upon the applicant obtaining a variance for lot area. Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Nixt, Commissioners Johnson, Brauer, Kociscak, Reeve, Sweet, and Watson. Voting No: None. Absent: None. Case #8: Request for Site Plan Review of Sunwood Estates; Case of Anoka County Community Action Program (ACCAP) Community Development Director Frolik stated that the City received an application from Jeff Johnson from Anoka County Community Action Program (ACCAP) for site plan review to develop a rental project consisting of 30 townhomes and 2 single family homes on the property located west of Highway #47 (St. Francis Blvd.) and south of Sunwood Drive. The developer is proposing that the southerly access be a full service access and the northerly access to Sunwood Drive be restricted for emergency use only. The City's practice has been to obtain two accesses into a neighborhood whenever feasible. She said that the City Engineer is recommending that the northerly access be a full service right-in/right-out access and that a median be constructed in Sunwood Drive to reinforce that traffic movement restriction. Building coverage is restricted to 35% of the property. The building coverage proposed is 4%. All of the structures meet or exceed the applicable structure setbacks from property lines. All of the private drives and off- street parking areas will be paved and finished with B-612 concrete curbing. According to City Code, a minimum of 73.5 parking spaces are required. The site plan reflects the capability to provide 99 off-street parking spaces; 64 spaces in 32 double garages and 35 off street parking spaces available for use by all the residents and guests. There is a sidewalk existing along both sides of Sunwood Drive. She noted that the developer is proposing to install sidewalks to link all of the units with two recreational areas planned in the neighborhood. The townhomes do not exceed the 35 foot height restriction. The exteriors will be finished with a combination of horizontal and shingle style vinyl siding with a masonry brick accent, and asphalt shingles. The units themselves exceed the minimum square footages established by City Code. The development will be required to obtain a permit from the Lower Rum River Water Management Organization. Staff recommends Site Plan approval contingent upon compliance with Staff Review Letter dated January 29, 2002. Commissioner Johnson asked the applicant, Jeff Johnson, if he was in agreement with the letter from the City dated January 29, 2002. Planning Commission/February 7, 2002 Page 10 of 19