Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/19/2005 - Special Meeting

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The maximum front yard setback from the sidewalk is 20 feet. All of the buildings, with the exception of a couple of buildings that front on Rhinestone Street, meet the setback requirement. The 20 foot setback on Rhinestone is difficult to achieve as the measurement is taken from the sidewalk and according to the master trail plan, .the sidewalk will be in the right-of-way for Rhinestone Street. This extends the measurement distance. Also, the street is designed with slight curves which also add to the distance between units and sidewalk. Resolution is either make adjustments to building locations or obtain a variance. The City Code requires 20 foot driveways for row house townhomes and 25 foot driveways for back-to-back units. All of the units were designed with 20 foot driveways in anticipation of the pending ordinance amendment. If the City Council does not adopt the ordinance to amend all driveway lengths to 20 feet, the site plan will have to be modified to provide 25 foot driveways on the back-to-back units. The preliminary plat shows a combination of public and private streets. All of the private streets will be 24 feet wide and meet City standards for length. The development of the plat will include the construction of the following public streets: 146th'Avenue extending west off of Rhinestone Street, East Town Center Drive from Bunker Lake Blvd. south to East Ramsey Parkway, and "Q" Street between Outlot A and Block 2. The TC-4b District requires 2 off-street parking spaces for each unit; the double garages and driveways provide 4 off-street parking spaces for each unit. The site plan also reflects that an additional 58 overflow parking spaces are proposed. The Park Commission reviewed the sketch plan on February 10. They stressed the Town Center Development guideline that encourages the use of private courtyards or usable greenspace being provided for the residents of the buildings. The preliminary site plan complies with the development guidelines and provides green spaces for recreational and stormwater management purposes on each block. The Grading and Drainage and Utility Plans have been reviewed. The necessary revisions are listed in the City Staff Review Letter. The proposed Landscaping Plan easily exceeds the minimum planting requirements in City Code. The Plan is acceptable with some minor modlfications. No tree preservation plan is required as the site is void of trees. Movement of pedestrians from this neighborhood to other areas of the Town Center, especially the core, is essential. The perimeter of all 3 blocks will have sidewalks or trails that are either interior to the site or a part of the Town Center trail system in road right-of-ways. The site plan proposes a system of interior sidewalks that connect with the Town Center trail system. Staff has made suggestions for additional connections on each of the 3 blocks. The Master Development Agreement for Town Center establishes that there are no park or trail fees due on this plat. However, there is a park payment obligation in the Master Development Agreement that requires a cash payment, to the City, upon sale of the property in an amount equal to 750 times the number of eligible units 'on the property in accordande with the zoning regulations.