Agenda - Council - 12/09/2025 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Drive-thrus are considered conditional uses in the Zoning Code and a conditional use permit (CUP) is required. City Code Section 106-525(6) lists out "standard conditions" for this use and the proposed lane configuration appears to be designed to those conditions. The drive-thru will be accessed from the parking lot with cars exiting onto Zeolite Street. The drive-thru will have a bypass lane that can be used as an exit for the parking lot. Sound from any speaker system must not be audible from the adjacent rights -of -way or residential use (which will be several hundred feet away). Pedestrian Connections As a part of the development of this site, sidewalks will be constructed along both Sunwood Drive and Zeolite Street. The Sunwood Drive sidewalk will contain planter beds that fit the streetscape while making an adjustment to frame the front door. The sidewalk along Zeolite Street will be a six-foot wide sidewalk with a boulevard between the sidewalk and curb of the roadway. This sidewalk will be constructed to the north private roadway in order to provide better snow clearing operations for City crews. The building is being constructed so that the front door directly accesses the sidewalk along Sunwood Drive. Landscaping and Screening The applicant submitted a landscape plan with the application. An earlier draft was reviewed by the Environmental Policy Board (EPB) at its meeting on October 20. A revised plan has been submitted (attached) that addressed the issues raised at that time. It is noted that two of the trees are too close to the intersection, violating the vision clearance triangle rule, and should be removed with the remaining trees being able to be spread out a little more. Along the east side of the building is a mechanical area screened by a short brick wall that matches the building's exterior. The COR Framework also requires screening of parking areas from Sunwood Drive. A decorative block kneewall will stretch the entire frontage of the parking lot, augmented by shrubs, to provide screening of the parking lot. The block wall will not match the brick in the building, though it is complementary in its design. Lighting The lighting plan shows a mix of decorative wall -mounted lights, freestanding lighting, and under -canopy lighting. All of the light fixtures appear to meet City Code requirements, provided the side shields are installed on the under -canopy lights in order to prevent glare. Future Development Site The area between the private roadway and the drive-thru exit will be retained by the City. This area was created so that the private roadway can line up with the Home2 Suites driveway. The applicant has stated that they do not need or want it. It is possible that a small single -user building up to about 3,000 square feet and the associated parking can be developed on this space. It is not big enough, however, to accommodate anything with a drive-thru. Any use on this site will be brought forward when a user and site design are known. Plat The application includes a final plat to subdivide the bank site off from the larger outlot. This final plat is considered a "minor plat." Development Agreement Attached to this case is the proposed development agreement. The agreement is standard in form with some provisions for private roadway. Approval of the agreement is included in the CUP approval resolution. Notification: Mailed notices were sent to property owners within 350 feet of the site. A "proposed development" sign was placed on the property. A legal notice was placed in the November 7 Anoka Union Hearld Newspaper. Time Frame/Observations/Alternatives: