Agenda - Planning Commission - 06/23/2022

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Regular Planning Commission 7. 1. Meeting Date: 06/23/2022 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title: Consider Site Plan and Preliminary Plat Request for a New PACT Charter School 6-12 Grade Campus at 7633 161 st Avenue NW(Project No. 22-107) Purpose/Background: The City has received an application from JB Vang (the "Applicant") for a Site Plan,Preliminary Plat, and Variance related to a proposed new 6-12 grade campus at 763 3 161 st Avenue NW(the "Subj ect Property") for PACT Charter School ("PACT"). PACT would continue school operations at their current location(7250 East Ramsey Parkway) for grades K-5. In February of this year, the Planning Commission conducted a Public Hearing for a requested Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment to re-guide and rezone a portion of the Subject Property to accommodate the proposed school use. In March of 2022, the City Council did approve both the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment, contingent upon approval of the Preliminary Plat. On May 26, 2022,the Planning Commission conducted another Public Hearing,which focused on the Site Plan, Preliminary Plat, and a requested Variance, all related to the proposed new school. The Planning Commission did approve the variance,which allowed for a reduced setback for parking adjacent to the vacant land owned by Saint Katharine Drexel Church. The Planning Commission did close the Public Hearing;however, action on the Site Plan and Preliminary Plat was tabled to the June 23, 2022 meeting. The Planning Commission directed the Applicant to analyze a'right-in' only bus access from Variolite Street,provide more information regarding potential noise from the proposed use, and improve their stormwater management plans. Notification: The Planning Commission did close the Public Hearing on May 26, 2022 and thus, no additional notification was required for this meeting. Prior to the May 26, 2022 Planning Commission meeting, Staff had attempted to notify property owners within 700 feet of the Subject Property, as reflected in the Anoka County Property Records, of the May 26, 2022 Public Hearing related to the Site Plan, Preliminary Plat, and Variance. A notice of that Public Hearing was also published in the Anoka County UnionHerald, the City's official newspaper. Observations/Alternatives: General Summary and Background Information The Subject Property is approximately thirty-three (33) acres in size and is located at the northeast corner of Variolite Street and 161 st Avenue. As noted above, the City Council approved a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment in March of this year,re-guiding and rezoning the western eighteen(18) acres of the Subject Property to Public/Institutional(from Low Density Residential) and Public/Quasi-Public(from R-1 Residential(MUSA) - 80), contingent upon approval of the Preliminary Plat. The Subject Property abuts Central Park to the west and abuts residential parcels to the north, zoned R-1 Residential (Rural Developing), is across the street from residential properties to the south(R-I Residential Rural Developing) and east(R-I Residential MUSA - 80). The plat would create one buildable lot for PACT, dedicate about 0.90 acres as parkland, and create two (2) outlots that would be retained by the property owner(Saint Katharine Drexel Church). Preliminary Plat The proposed subdivision would create four(4)parcels: a 0.90 acre parcel to be dedicated to the City as parkland (northeast corner of plat, abutting Central Park); a 17 acre buildable lot for the proposed school; two (2) outlots, one of which will be the site of a new church(this is not part of this project,but that is the intended future use). The