Minutes - Council - 10/25/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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the 175 apartment units shown on the sketch plan at this time. They may bring back a future development that will contain apartments in the future, but at this time it is undetermined if and when that would happen. He reviewed that as part of the approval process, an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was required. On July 26, 2005, after review of the comments received fi'om the documents and looking at information contained within the EAW, the City Council determined that no further environmental review was necessary. Mr. Trudgeon advised the property currently has several zoning designations, R-l, R-2, R-3, and TC-2. Pulte Homes is proposing to rezone the entire property to PUD. Given the fact that the applicant is planning to reserve some land for possible commercial development, staff recommends that this land retain its current zoning designation. The City is unable to rezone the potential commercial area to f~[Jl) sincc City Code requires that a site plan be considered simultaneously. Once a proposal is brought forward concerning the commercial area, the City will need to process a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and rezoning to facilitate the commercial development. He advised the grading, drainage, streets, and utilities plan are generally acceptable subject to the comments contained in the Staff Review Letter. It appears from the information given by the applicant that the townhome units will meet and exceed the architectural standards for townhomes. The l~mdscaping plan is generally acceptable subject to the comments contained in the Staff Review 1 ~c~'ltcr. Community Development Director Trudgeon stated the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed plat on October 6, 2005. The Commission had an extensive discussion about the proposed subdivision. Many liked the general layout and amenities, but most had concerns regarding thc transitioning to the Whispering Pines neighborhood. Density Transitioning will be required along the northern most eastern property line, which abuts properties currently in the Whispering Pines subdivision. He explained the landscaping plan does include plantings ac[jacent to the existing single family homes along the eastern boundary as well as the lone existing lot on Puma Street. A suggestion from the Planning Commission was to possibly rc..locatc the proposed park from the northwest corner of the plat to the east directly adjacent to llqe Whispering Pines neighborhood. He explained subsequent to the Planning Commission meeting, the Park Commission has met and reviewed the possible relocation of the park. After discussion of the matter, the Park Commission feels that the park should not be moved from its p~'csenl location. It was felt that the northeast location of the park was desirable since there is proposed to be additional parkland west of Puma Street and south of Alpine Drive. Absent moving the proposed public park to assist in transitioning, the Planning Commission also sttggcsted moving the proposed ponding closer to the existing lots, creating a landscaping berm, or creating larger lots adjacent to the Whispering Pines subdivision. Community Development I)ircctor Trudgcon advised City Code allows for a transitioning alternative that is mutually agreeable to the Developer and the City to fulfill the density transitioning requirements. Given the neighborhood design considerations and the necessity to increase density in certain areas as well as the possibility of future development in the Whispering Pines development, staff is proposing that landscaping shown coupled with looking at doing additional plantings on the development side of the Whispering Pines side will be sufficient to meet density transitioning expectations, t-le advised it should be noted that the landscaping plan also does include buffer plantings along the southern edge of the townhomes in anticipation of possible commercial d,~vclopmcnt in the future as well as along the possible future bridge corridor where it abuts 19roposcd lots. City Council / October 25, 2005 Page 10 of 22