Agenda - Council - 12/13/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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developer in the future. He advised the preliminary plat generally conforms to the Town Center master plan and standards established in the TC-1 District, therefore staff is recommending approval contingent upon compliance with the City Staff Review Letter dated October 6, 2005. Community Development Director Trudgeon indicated Sharp and Associates has submitted a site plan to construct a three-story, 51,829~square foot office/retail building on a'portion of Outlot W in Ramsey Town Center Addition. The building represents the first of three office/retail buildings on this block. The proposed lot is approximately 4.09 acres in size, and is located within the Town Center subdistrict TC-1. The proposed office/retail building is a permitted use within this district. City Code requires a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Of 1:0 in the TC-1 District. On this particular lot, the FAR requirement equates to a minimum 177,763 square feet of FAR. The site plan proposes 51,829 square feet of office area, for a FAR of 0.3. The final FAR for the entire site will need to be cal.culated when site plans are submitted for the remaining two buildings on the site. He explained there have been struggles with the FAR on other developments, and there will be other sites where there will be a struggle as well; it has been somewhat difficult to meet the FAR standards, and the City may need to be flexible with ;these standards. The Planning Commission recognized the problem,'and had a couple of.thoughts. One was to amend the ordinance, and the other was to set up a variance procedure.. The Planning Commission likes the greenspace Mr. Deal has provided along Sunwood Drive, and recognized that there may be tradeoffs in relation to the FAR. Community Development Director Trudgeon explained the Town Center Zoning District establishes setback standards based on the principle of "build to" lines rather than traditional setbacks. The only setback requirement in the TC-1 District is in the front yard, where buildings must 1Se within 0-5 feet of the property line. At least 60% of the front fa,cade must meet this setback. On the proposed site plan, approximately 65% of the front fagade is meeting this requirement. The TC-1 District requires buildings to be 2-5 stories in height. The site plan is proposing a three-story office building. He advised the grading, drainage, and utility plans will need to be revised in accordance with the City Staff Review Letter. Staff received a revised Grading and Drainage Plan on October 6, 2005. InclUded in the Council's packet are Engineering Memos dated October 6 and 11, 2005. AnY motions Should be contingent on these memos. Parking in the first phase will meet the parking requirements of the Town Center Zoning District. Community Development Director Trudgeon stated the Town Center Technical Advisory Committee (TCTAC) reviewed the proposed site plan according ~o' the Town Center Development Guidelines. The TCTAC was generally supportive of the proposed site plan. A recommendation was made to use a material other than stucco for the base of the building; however, this was an incorrect reflection of the materiais, as the material is not stucco. He advised the Plmming Commission recommended approval of the preliminary site plan. He explained the applicant is requesting permission from the City Council to begin footings and foundation work on the site prior to receiving final site plan approval. Staff is supportive of this request, contingent on submittal of a revised grading and drainage plan that is acceptable to the Engineering Department. City Council / October 11, 2005 Page 6 of 17 -368~