Agenda - Council - 09/11/2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-46— Chairperson Nixt stated in effect they made it easier to grant the variance they already had granted. He stated he did not know how the site plan they had laid out was more pedestrian friendly when they had traffic completely circumvent the entire building. He stated there was no access point for the pedestrian where they would not be crossing traffic. Associate Planner Dalnes stated if they moved the building to the north, they could add two additional rows of parking on the south side of the building and then they would not need the variance. Rob Brandwick, stated it was a traffic flow issue having the drive thru on the east. Chairperson Nixt stated this was a challenge if they moved the drive thru to the east side of the building and it was difficult to orient with the egress and that would need to be resolved. He stated the more they moved the building to the north, the more the problem would be exacerbated. Chairperson Nixt stated the only option was to flip the drive thru on the south side and move the building north, but he would rather have a drive -thru that was properly maintained and landscaped than just a parking lot. Commissioner Cleveland stated she believed it would be better to leave the drive thru where it is proposed. Chairperson Nixt stated they needed to berm the northwest corner and taper the berm down to shelter the drive area. Commissioner Van Scoy stated they would not see that because all you would see is a bank that was 80 feet from the road with the tar and a small berm. Commissioner Hunt stated he liked the plan as it was laid out and believed it would function and he believed if they redesigned this, it would create a traffic flow problem. He stated with what they had to work with and what they were trying to accomplish, he saw this as a functional and attractive plan. Chairperson Nixt stated that from a left turn standpoint, this was too tight and would make it too difficult to exit there and therefore he was leaning against staff's recommendation to move the drive -thru to the east. Associate Planner Dalnes stated as they were discussing alternative they could look at, but they were not making this one of the recommendations. Commissioner Trites Rolle stated she liked the idea of moving it, but the left turn did pose problems. She noted since West Ramsey Parkway was split, could people head down the new road and come into the bank as a one -way entry only, which would bring them straight thru the drive -thru only. Planning Commission /August 3, 2006 Page 6 of 16