Agenda - Planning Commission - 06/22/2023

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Regular Planning Commission 6.4. Meeting Date: 06/22/2023 By: Todd Larson, Community Development Information Title: PUBLIC HEARING - Aldi - Site Plan Review at 7992-7994 Sunwood Drive NW. Purpose/Background: ISG Inc. has submitted an application on behalf of Aldi Inc. (the Applicant) for a new 20,664 sq.ft. grocery store at the southwest corner of the Sunwood Drive roundabout. The site is within COR-2b subdistrict where retail uses are permitted. The building and site are subject to a Site Plan Review. The current site consists of three platted parcels that will be replanted into two lots --one for the grocery store and one for a future user. The property is owned by the City and the applicant has been working with the EDA and Economic Development staff on matters pertaining to the sale of the site. Notification: Property owners within 700 feet were sent a mailed notification. A "proposed development" sign was placed at the site near the north driveway. A legal notice was placed in the June 9 Anoka Union Hearld Newspaper. Observations/Alternatives: Site Layout The proposed grocery store sits on the eastern part of the site with the front entrance at the northwest corner of the building. The parking lot takes up the western part of the lot. Along the southwestern part of the site, a space is reserved for a future user. No user is identified at this time. When a business is interested in locating there, a land use application will be made for it. The site is set up for a shared parking lot with additional spaces likely with the addition of the future user. A concept plan is included in the attached civil plan set. Building Design The one-story 20,664 square foot building has a primary building material of brick with woodgrain Nichiha and smooth metal panel accents. A notable angled raised parapet wraps the northwest corner over the entryway. Clear glass windows are located on the corner of the entryway as well. As a result of the Planning Commission discussion on May 25, the applicant has revised the east elevation to include larger spandrel windows to give the impression of a storefront along Sunwood Drive. One of these windows will have some glass for views out of the employee break room. Also improved from this discussion, the applicant added Nichiha along the southeast corner of the building and added a sign to the south wall for more visual interest. Along the north side of the building, an area for cart storage is built-in, similar to most other Aldi locations. No cart corrals are located in the parking lot. Access and Parking There are two driveway accesses to the site. The eastern driveway is currently used as a shared driveway to access the Northstar Marketplace to the south. This driveway will be striped for two outbound lanes for better traffic flow. The northern driveway is currently a right -in driveway. Staff has requested that this driveway be modified to allow for outbound (right turn only) traffic as an alternative to the eastern driveway as that one is expected to be busy. In the future, the lane divider at the roundabout separating right turning traffic from through/left traffic may need to be removed to accommodate semi -truck traffic better.