Minutes - Council - 05/28/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . siding, asphalt shingles, masonry brick accents, and maintenance free decks. (Some units will have sunrooms rather than decks.) City Code restricts lot coverage to 35%. Lot coverage on the subject property will be approximately 15%. All of the units will contain two bedrooms and all have the potential for a third bedroom. The finished floor areas are approximately 1,350 square feet, which exceeds City Code requirements. Current performance standards contained in City Code for medium density neighborhoods are difficult to apply to the development trends of today, specifically townhomes. Whenever possible, City staff attempts to work with developers to achieve plat designs that will more closely reflect the revised performance standards currently under consideration for adoption. The current draft of the medium density residential development performance standards proposes a 30-foot structure setback from plat boundaries and a minimum l5-foot separation between buildings. The buildings in Sunflower Ridge are proposed to be 30-35 feet away from plat boundaries and all structures are at least 20 feet apart. The structures on the private driveway collectors meet the 25-foot setback from back of curb. The structures that front on the public streets are currently subject to a 35-foot setback from the right-of-way; the proposed setback in the new ordinance will require a 25-foot setback; the site plan is proposing a 30-foot setback from right-of-way. Because the revised setback of 25 feet has not yet been adopted, the Developer did apply for and receive a 5- foot variance to the current 35-foot requirement. The townhouse units will consist of 4 and 6-unit row-style walkout units. The units will have an exterior of vinyl siding with brick accents around the entrances. The units meet the minimum square footage required under City Ordinances. The units will range from 1,361 to 1,875 square feet in finished space. Under City Ordinances, the maximum height for structures is 35 feet. The applicant will be providing information verifying the proposed height of the units. The City policy has been to require at least one tree per unit and City Code requires a 15- foot wide screened buffer area when multiple family developments abut a single-family district. Screening must be at least five feet tall and may consist of either fencing, landscaping, or benning, or any combination thereof. The Landscape Plan reviewed by the Planning Commission on May 2 contained 126 trees, 882 shrubs and a 4-foot berm on the west property line. The Planning Commission advised Oakwood that the minimum number of trees required is 126 and because this development abuts a single family district on the west, more than the minimum should be provided, in addition to increasing the berm height from 4 to 5 feet. On May 23, City Staff received a revised Landscape Plan that maintained the 882 shrubs originally proposed, increased the number of trees to 159, and increased the berm from 4 to 5 feet. City Staff is recommending that the Landscape Plan be further revised to increase the diversity of species utilized in both trees and shrubs, make sure the species are those that do well in Ramsey soils, and increasing the shrub size to #3 gallon. Sidewalks are being provided on one side of all of the public streets and a trail will be constructed parallel to Alpine Drive, along the entire south boundary of the plat. The Planning Commission recommended site plan approval contingent upon resolving an acceptable Landscape Plan with City Staff. Councilmember Kurak inquired as to whom decides what type of trees will be planted and what SIze. City Council/May 28, 2002 Page 20 of 25