Agenda - Council - 01/25/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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River Meadows. It is important to coordinate street layout and connections between Shade Tree Cottages, Rum River Meadows, and the existing, neighborhood to the north. The revised street layout provides for the most direct connection to Radium Street. Potassium Street is currently an unimproved public street (i.e. gravel road)..It is the City's desire to upgrade gravel streets whenever possible and therefore discussions have been initiated regarding the City participating in the cost to complete the street improvement project, especially considering that Potassium Street is already a dedicated public street and .therefOre is not included in the plat boundary line. In order to facilitate development within Rum River Meadows, Shade Tree Cottages, and to better serve existing residents along Potassium Street, it seems beneficial to upgrade Potassium Street to urban street standards in conjunction with this development. Along the northern plat boundary line, the subject property is located next to single family lots that are located outside of the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) and therefore the plat will be subject to density transitioning. City Code allows the City Council t° determine the proper buffer level for PUD developments. The sketch plan is providing 100 feet between the rear lot line of the existing single family homes and the detached townhome units. During preliminary plat review a comprehensive discussion will need to occur in order to provide for the most effective buffer between the existing residential' neighborhood and the'proposed development. There is a substantial wetland On the prOposed plat that will need to be delineated and encumbered with drainage and utility easements on the preliminary and final plats. A detailed grading and drainage plan will be reviewed as part of the preliminary plat submittal. The subdivision will be subject to permitting by the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization. The Planning Commission reviewed the sketch plan at their January 6, 2005 meeting. Although sketch plan's are not subject to an official public hearing, Chairperson Nixt allowed comments from residents in attendance. Several residents stated their opposition regarding the proposed development. The Planning Commission unanimously denied the sketch plan based on concerns with the proposed density, wetland/topography challenges, and lack of compliance with the PUD guidelines. As previouslY mentioned, the sketch plan has been substantially revised since it was reviewed by the Planning Commission. The main factor driving the revision was to provide for a more direct public street connection to Radium Street, which resulted in a different layout of residential units. Recommendation: As mentioned above, the Planning Commission denied the sketch plan. However, City Code states that an applicant has the right to request that the City Council review a sketch, plan. The applicant is exercising this option, and is requesting input from the City Council. The intent of sketch plans are to merely get a conceptual look at a proposed subdivision. The details related to compliance with PUD guidelines (i.e. open space), setbacks, and architectural