Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/28/2024

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Regular Planning Commission Meeting Date: 03/28/2024 Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: 6. 3. Create a positive image for residential neighborhoods, business districts and key corridors. Information Title: PUBLIC HEARING: Consider a Site Plan and Final Plat from St. Katharine Drexel at 7633 161st Avenue NW Purpose/Background: The City has received an application from Station 19 Architects (the "Applicant"), on behalf of The Church of St. Katharine Drexel, for a Site Plan and Final Plat on the property currently described as Outlot B, PACT Addition (the "Subject Property"). The Subject Property is generally located at the northwest corner of 161st Avenue NW and Variolite Street NW, east of PACT Charter High School. 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 located at the northwest corner of 161st Avenue NW and Variolite Street NW, east of PACT Charter High School. The Subject Property is zoned PI, Public/Institutional District, and is guided for low -density residential use in the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. It is approximately 6.38 acres in size. Access to the lot currently comes from an existing driveway on Variolite Street; however, the proposed site plan would vacate the existing driveway and establish a new driveway onto 161st Avenue NW. Surrounding properties to the east (across Variolite Street NW), north, and west are all guided for low -density residential use and properties to the south (across 161st Avenue NW) are guided as "Rural Developing". Site Plan The proposed building is 15,912 square feet, and designed to have the main entrance facing south. The building is proposed to be more than 100 feet from all property lines. The Applicant is also proposing a trash enclosure southeast of the proposed building, with the gates facing westward. The Applicant intends to have the trash enclosure match the proposed building in appearance and color. In addition to the proposed building, there is an existing 1,200 square -foot garage located at the northeast corner of the site that was constructed by the Applicant in 2022. The garage will remain on the Subject Property for the Applicant's use. Additionally, the existing sign at the corner of 161st Avenue NW and Variolite Street NW will remain in its current position. Access to the building and parking lot will come from a new driveway onto 161st Avenue NW, which lines up directly with the main entrance of the building. The driveway stub was built as part of the reconstruction of 161st Avenue NW last summer. Minimum parking requirements for assembly uses, including religious institutions, are one space for each three seats of design capacity. The building's main assembly space is designed for 390 occupants, which results in a minimum parking requirement of 130 stalls. 98 stalls are proposed for the first phase. However, it should be noted that 289 additional parking stalls are shown as part of a future phase. The Applicant has verbally indicated their preference to only pave 98 stalls, based on current membership, noting that the shared parking agreement with PACT can accommodate any overflow to meet the 130-stall requirement.