Minutes - Planning Commission - 08/03/2006

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Motion by Chairperson Nixt, seconded by Commissioner Cleveland, to recommend that the City Council approve the conditional use permit request, amended as discussed, based on the findings of fact. Motion Carried. V oting Yes: Chairperson Nixt, Commissioners Cleveland, Brauer, Hunt, Levine, Trites Rolle, and Van Scoy. Voting No: None. Absent: None. Case #3: Request for a for Site Plan Review of Klein Bank; Case of HTG Architects and Shingobee Builders, Inc Associate Planner DaInes stated that HTG Architects has submitted a site plan application to develop a 15,500 square foot bank on the comer of Armstrong Boulevard and West Ramsey Parkway within the Town Center. She stated the site plan for the construction of a 15,000 square- foot bank has been submitted in association with the minor subdivision ofRTC 14th Addition, a conditional use permit to construct a drive-thru, and two variances to exceed maximum front yard setbacks, and to deviate from minimum floor-area-ratios established for the TC-2 district. She indicated the plan proposes to construct a two-story banking facility with a drive-thru window. The building is set 35 feet back from Armstrong Boulevard, 70 feet from West Ramsey Parkway, and 330 feet from Sunwood Drive. A drive-thru is proposed on the north side of the building, with a drive aisle around the perimeter. An on-site traffic circulation plan has been requested in order to analyze the proposed parking and drive aisles. She stated it was the intent of the Town Center district to encourage a distinctly different development pattern than typical, suburban development. Therefore, the proposed building and drive-thru positioning are not ideal. The proposed location of the drive-thru on the north side of the building, adjacent to the parkway, will not encourage an active pedestrian environment, as the parkway was envisioned to be. Furthermore, the proposed drive aisle on the west side of the building lacks a consideration for pedestrians on the trail along Armstrong Boulevard and provides complicated traffic movements for cars exiting on the south. Staff would like the applicant to consider the re- location of the drive-thru to the east side of the building to reduce potential traffic conflicts and to reduce the negative impacts a drive aisle will have on the pedestrian environment along Armstrong Boulevard and West Ramsey Parkway. She noted the TC-2 District is meant to be more auto-oriented than other Town Center areas and because the building is not directly adjacent to Sunwood Drive, the concern for the specific building orientation is not as great. It is staffs opinion that the large setbacks from Armstrong Boulevard and West Ramsey Parkway can be mitigated by an increased effort to cater to the pedestrian through the increase of landscaping, fencing, and berming along Armstrong Boulevard and West Ramsey Parkway. Mr. McDonald stated Klein Bank was not interested in putting up something they could not lease and they needed accessible parking. He stated where they were at now was a compromise with staff. He stated Council was generally in favor of this layout and that was why they invested in this plan. Rob Brandwick, HTG Architects, stated the front doors could be on either comer and they had not decided which comer would be better. Planning Commission! August 3, 2006 Page 5 of 16