Agenda - Planning Commission - 06/23/2022

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Engineering staff reviewed the traffic impact study(TIS)which indicates that no improvements are needed on local streets to offset traffic impacts associated with the PACT Charter School and the Saint Katherine Drexel Church developments. Engineering Staff generally approve of the data used to prepare the TIS but would like to better understand the impacts to traffic on 161st Avenue due to the anticipated queuing of vehicles during morning student drop-off times. Engineering staff also want to be certain that buses queueing in the northbound left turn lane on Variolite Street at 161 st Avenue will not fill the turn lane and extend into the through lane of northbound Variolite Street,which could result in vehicles using the shoulder to pass buses or other vehicles queued in the left turn lane. In addition, Engineering Staff do not support an access on Variolite Street due to safety concerns associated with the restricted sight distance related to the vertical curvature of Variolite Street. Tree Preservation and Landscaping The Environmental Policy Board(EPB)reviewed the natural resources elements of the request at their May 16, 2022 meeting. The EPB did recommend approval of these aspects of the project with certain contingencies. First, was that there should be a greater attempt to preserve some of the oak forest area in the northeast part of the school site. The EPB felt this would assist in addressing concerns raised by neighbors about light and noise from the athletic field. Secondly, the EPB recommended that reforestation, rather than restitution,be the primary tool to satisfy the tree preservation requirements (necessary because tree removals exceed 70%). Again,their reasoning was that additional plantings could be strategically located throughout the site to try and mitigate concerns of surrounding neighbors. Finally,the EPB was supportive of the installation of some of the plantings in Central Park should there not be sufficient space on the Subj ect Property. The revised plans appear to preserve one (1) additional oak tree near the wetland setback(northeast portion of site). However,with the reconfigured stormwater basin,which was enlarged and extended eastward, close to twenty(20) additional trees, mostly oaks,will be removed. Both tree preservation and stormwater management have been identified as concerns by the public. Based on the present layout of the proposed improvements, it will be challenging to preserve the oak forest, or portions thereof,while meeting the minimum stormwater management requirements. The revised Landscape Plan does include an additional sixty(60)trees installed on site. The majority of the additional plantings are focused around the stormwater basin north and east of the proposed athletic field. While the Applicant was unable to preserve more of the existing oak forest, these additional trees will, over time,provide some buffering between the school and the residential parcels to the north. The revised plan notes that 441 trees (2.511 caliper) are still required for reforestation and that satisfaction of this will be accomplished via restitution or off-site plantings, which is not consistent with the EPB's recommendation. Lighting A Photometric Plan was submitted for both the area around the school as well as the athletic field. It shows that at the perimeter of the property,where it abuts or is across from existing residential properties,the lighting will be less than one (1) footcandle at ground level. Traditional parking lot lighting will be utilized around the school. There will be four(4) eighty(80) foot tall light structures to illuminate the athletic field(when in use). These fixtures will include glare shields to aid in focusing the light on the playing areas. The lighting standards in City Code appear to have been designed for parking areas, signs, and around buildings (security lighting) and do not directly address the lighting typically used for athletic fields,nor are there any specific regulations restricting footcandles at property boundaries. The Photometric Plan does indicate less than one (1) footcandle along the northern property boundary (adjacent to existing residential properties). Noise The Planning Commission, as part of its motion on May 26,2022, directed the Applicant to provide a noise study that would demonstrate anticipated noise levels at property boundaries. The Applicant worked with a potential speaker vendor(they do not have an executed contract with this vendor yet)to develop a generalized plan sheet, with the assumption of a scoreboard mounted PA system at the north side of the athletic field, facing south. Under this assumption, decibel levels would be less than 60 along the northern, southern, and eastern boundaries of the plat. The Applicant has noted that this is just a starting point and after they have an executed contract with a speaker vendor, can provide more specific sound mapping for the PA system.