Agenda - Planning Commission - 01/04/2018

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Review File: Affinity at Ramsey Sketch Plan Review December 21, 2017 Page 2 of 3 Minimum Lot De I the 80 feet Build to Line: 20 feet Building Height: 1-4 stories 376 feet 19 feet 10 inches 4 stories Streets and Access. West Town Center Drive and at least a portion of West Ramsey Park will need to be constructed as a result of this project. A cost share of those improvements may be worked out between the City and the Applicant. Development Fees: Development Fees will be due with the Plat including, but not limited to, Park Dedication, Trail Development, and Stormwater Management. These fees are collected at the time the Final Plat is recorded and at the rate in effect when the plat is recorded. Development Agreement: An executed Development Agreement for the site improvements will be required prior to releasing the plat for recording. Staff will review the engineering estimates once submitted by the Applicant. Sketch Site Plan Review General. The purpose of this portion of the review is to assess the submitted site plan application for Affinity at Ramsey. The associated plans were prepared by Alliant Engineering, Kaas Wilson Architects, Civil Site Group, and BKBM and are dated December 6, 2017. Surfacing: The Applicant is proposing a completely bituminous parking lot which is an acceptable material within The COR. The current plans also show a concrete sidewalk along the interior of the project adjacent to the parking areas and structure as well as concrete sidewalks along West Ramsey Parkway and West Town Center Drive. Building Architecture: The proposed structure is four (4) stories in height and shows a mixture of proposed facade materials. Those materials include brick, stone, fiber cement siding, and asphalt shingles. The Design Framework also describes the aesthetic qualities and design character of a preferred "urban form" for the Mixed Use Core. Overall building design is an important consideration, but emphasis on first floor facade treatments is essential to encourage street -level activity and enhance the pedestrian experience. The Design Framework requires that residential uses in the COR 1 sub -district comply with the following 1. At least sixty (60) percent of street frontage of any lot shall be occupied by building facades meeting the built -to -line. On lots with more than one (1) street frontage, the build to line shall apply on each side fronting a street. An exposed open area plaza space or outdoor seating with a decorative wall with a minimum height of three feet (3') and a maximum of four and one-half feet (4 1/2') can be used to meet the sixty (60%) percent street frontage requirement. 2. Screening of Parking Areas: Wherever a surface parking area faces a street frontage, such frontage shall be screened with a decorative wall, railing, hedge, or a combination of these elements, to a minimum height of three feet (3') and a maximum height of four and one-half feet (4 1/2') above the level of the parking lot, at the build -to line. This screening may be broken into sections along the street edge provided it meets the sixty (60%) percent required. The Applicant will want to consider and review the architecture of the proposed first floor (street level) as it relates to the pedestrian experience.