Minutes - Planning Commission - 06/01/2006

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The applicant is seeking to produce detached townhomes, and because City Code does not specifically address this housing type, the R-2 Medium Density Residential Standards are used. Included in the Commission's packet is a chart indicating the standards for Medium Density Residential, and the proposed deviations for each lot within the development. The most substantial setback deviation. is the 20 foot minimum separation distance between buildings in the R-2 District. This seems to be excessive in lieu of the fact that single family homes can be constructed with a 12 foot separation and still meet City Code. The 20 foot separation in the R-2 District was written with the larger, multiple-unit buildings in mind; it did not anticipate the detached townhome style. From a fire safety standpoint, it is preferred to obtain a minimum of 10 feet between buildings. The applicant has been requested to revise the plat to this minimum distance between homes. Ms. Daines indicated City Code discusses general and specific requirements for allowing zoning amendments to Planned Unit Development (PUD). She reviewed the following criteria for the zoning amendments: Associate Planner Daines advised staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the preliminary plat and preliminary site plan, contingent upon receiving a rezoning to Planned Unit Development (PUD) and compliance with the City Staff Review Letter, dated May 24, 2006, and Engineering comments dated May 30, 2006. It is Staffs opinion that the proposed deviations allow a unique design and product, and the plan sufficiently meets the intent of a Planned-Unit-Development. Furthermore, this site is constrained by surrounding development outside the control of the landowner. Detached townhomes provide a good a1temative to traditional, attached townhomes. The density is substantially lower than what is permitted within this district. Citizen Input Anthony Wellman, Chairman of the Board of Ramsey Assembly of God, owning property located at 14600 Nowthen Boulevard, stated the church's property is on the northwest property line of this site, and according to the map it is two lots away from the proposed frontage road that will be a cul-de-sac for a while. The church has an interest in whether it is in the best interest of everyone for that cul-de-sac to be in place at the point it is being proposed on the north side, specifically because the City will require that the road will continue on through their properties because it is a temporary cul-de-sac, and also because it is a requirement for the road to go through for the development of the next two properties. The road will take up the north side of the church's property and the east side, which is up against CR 5, and this will diminish the value of their property. He is not entirely sure how much of their property will be taken up at this point, but it looks pretty substantial. Mr. Wellman stated he is asking if the Commission would consider tabling this for discussion of the parties involved. The church did not find out there was a general plan until he called Breanne Daines today and spoke with Derwood yesterday. The church would like to talk with the Stritesky's, Derwood and Mr. Deemer all together. He thinks the new styles are a great idea, but it would be good to look at the cul-de-sac and frontage road to see if they could be done a little differently. He feels there is not going to be an altemative, and they need to look at whether Helium Street could go through the back side of the property, taking a little easement from everyone involved. The church has not received layouts of the overall area, but Derwood seemed to be in agreement that there will be a substantial loss of property if Planning Commission/June 1,2006 Page 3 of 19