Agenda - Council - 09/28/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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schedule per 100 feet of property boundary adjacent to impacted use: • 4 overstory trees • 4 evergreen trees • 4 understory trees If vegetative buffer "B" is utilized, the berm shall not exceed six (6) feet in height and should be designed with aesthetic appeal, including breaks and irregular groups of plantings. The Site Plan includes a forty-five (45) foot wide corridor along the north and west property boundaries adjacent to the existing rural neighborhood. This plans also include berming, up to approximately four (4) feet in height, along much of the common boundary. The only exception is along the southern portion of the western lot line where, due to existing topography and proposed elevations, there would be a downward slope of about four (4) feet rather than a true berm. As proposed, the Applicant is generally providing a wider corridor than required, since they are also including berming (essentially providing the corridor required for vegetative buffer "C" but including berming, so plantings as outlined in vegetative buffer "B"). As previously noted, Staff has recommended that this area be platted as a separate outlot to satisfy the 'held in common ownership' provision in the density transitioning ordinance. Presently, the Preliminary Plat shows the density transitioning area as part of each of the single family lots. If this area were platted as an outlot, six (6) of the lots would drop slightly below the minimum lot size required in the R-1 Residential (MUSA) - 80 district. However, as proposed, the plan seems to provide additional buffering for the adjacent, existing neighborhood. Alternatives Alternative #1: Approve the Preliminary Plat and Zoning Amendment with the following contingencies: 1. Zoning Amendment only to rezone the R-3 Residential (High Density) portion to R-2 Residential (Medium Density); leaving the R-1 Residential (MUSA) - 80 as is. 2. Approval of Comprehensive Plan Amendment by Metropolitan Council 3. Compliance with Staff Review Comments in ProjectDox 4. Anoka County Highway Department approval of second access onto Armstrong Boulevard (or, in lieu of that, a second access to the existing local road network) 5. Approval of plans by Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) The project represents a reasonable transition to the existing residential neighborhoods to the north and west. Also, a second access to Armstrong Boulevard, if approved by Anoka County, addresses the concerns previously raised about a single point of access to this many homes. Staff supports this alternative. Alternative #2: Approve the Zoning Amendment, table action on the Preliminary Plat, and direct the Applicant to make certain modifications to the Preliminary Plat. This alternative would be mostly dependent on discussion by City Council. If there were specific modifications the City Council desires to see, those should be specifically identified so the Applicant can attempt to incorporate said revisions. Alternative #3: Motion to deny the Preliminary Plat and Zoning Amendment. This action would indicate a desire to see the Subject Property development in accordance with R-3 Residential (High Density) District standards, including a density of 8-15 units per acre. The City Council has already approved a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to re -guide the land from High Density Residential to Medium Density Residential and has introduced Ordinance #21-19 to rezone a portion of the Subject Property from R-3 Residential (High Density) to R-2 Residential (Medium Density). Staff does not support this alternative. Funding Source: The Applicant is responsible for all costs incurred by the City while processing this request. Recommendation: The Planning Commission recommends adopting Ordinance #21-19 approving the Zoning Amendment to rezone the R-3 Residential (High Density) portion of the Subject Property to R-2 Residential (Medium Density) and adopting Resolution #21-252 approving the Preliminary Plat with the following contingencies (these have been incorporated into the resolution): • Approval of the Zoning Amendment to rezone R-3 Residential (High Density) to R-2 Residential (Medium Density) • Approval of the CPA by the Metropolitan Council • Approval of Anoka County for second access onto Armstrong Boulevard • Compliance with Staff Review Comments within ProjectDox • Approval of Stormwater Plan and Wetland Delineation by the LRRWMO Outcome/Action: