Agenda - Planning Commission - 01/25/2024

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6. 2. Regular Planning Commission Meeting Date: 01/25/2024 Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: Promote economic growth and development. Information Title: PUBLIC HEARING: Consider a Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, and Variance Related to Impervious Surfacing Regulations in the Rum River Wild& Scenic Overlay District for Lightbridge Academy Purpose/Background: The City has received an application from Paul Otto,with Otto Associates, Engineers & Land Surveyors, Inc. (the "Applicant") for a Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, and Variance to the maximum impervious surfacing requirement in the Rum River Wild& Scenic Overlay District, on the property currently described as Outlots A and B,Rivers Bend 3rd Addition, except part of Ramsey Office Park(the "Subject Property"). The Subject Property does not currently have an address,but is generally located between St. Francis Boulevard(State Highway 47) and Xkimo Street NW, south of the Holiday Stationstore, and north of Ramsey Office Park. Notification: Staff attempted to notify property owners within 700 feet of the Subject Property, as reflected in the Anoka County Property Records, of the request and the Public Hearing to be held by the Planning Commission. A notice of the Public Hearing was published in the Anoka County UnionHerald, the City's official newspaper. A proposed development sign was placed on the property. Time Frame/Observations/Alternatives: Subject Property The Subject Property is generally located between St. Francis Boulevard(State Highway 47) and Xkimo Street NW, south of the Holiday Stationstore, and north of Ramsey Office Park. The Sub ect Property is zoned B-2, Community Business District, on the newly-adopted zoning map, and is guided for commercial land use in the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. It is approximately 2.12 acres in size. Access to the lot will come from an existing curb cut onto Xkimo Street to the east. Surrounding properties to the north and south are similar in size and are also zoned and guided for commercial land uses. Properties to the west(across St. Francis Boulevard) and east(across Xkimo Street) are zoned and guided for low-density residential land use. In addition to the B-2 zoning designation for the entire Subject Property, a significant portion of the property is located within the Rum River Wild and Scenic Overlay District. More information on this district can be found in the "Variance" section of this staff report. Preliminary and Final Plat The applicant proposes to plat two existing outlots into one buildable lot to accommodate a new commercial development intended for a daycare. The plat depicts several easements on the property, including the following: •A 20-foot-wide utility easement for an existing sanitary sewer line,running west to east across the northern third of the Subj ect Property; •A pedestrian trail easement that runs north to south along the west edge of the Subject Property; •A restricted access easement along the west edge of the Subject Property to prevent access to St. Francis Boulevard(State Highway 47); •Drainage and utility easements along all four sides of the Subject Property. Alongside the proposed development, a shared-use trail will be constructed within the pedestrian trail easement along St. Francis Boulevard. It is anticipated that the City will construct the remaining segments to the north and