Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/06/2003

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zoned R-2 Residential and a small portion of the property is zoned B-1 Business. The developer has submitted an application to rezone that portion of the subject property zoned B-1 Business to R-2 Medium Density Residential. The townhouse units will front onto private streets. The private streets will provide access to 138th Avenue, which provides access to Riverdale Drive. Riverdale Drive is proposing to connect to Highway #i0 and to Garnet Street. Connecting Riverdale Drive to Highway #10 will involve the resignalization of Highway #10 and Ramsey Boulevard intersection. The proposed development meets all setbacks, unit size, structure height, and off-street parking requirements established in the R-2 district. The site plan meets the landscaping and screening requirements. The subdivision, is meeting density-transitioning requirements through the landscape buffer option. The development will be serviced by municipal water and sewer. The project is subject to the review and permitting process of the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (WMO). Due to the preliminary plat of Rivenwick 3rd Addition being tabled at the November 12, 2002 City Council meeting, the City Council tabled action on the request for site plan approval. At their October 10, 2002 meeting, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the site plan contingent upon compliance with City Staff Review Letter dated September 27, 2002, revised November 8, 2002, the developer obtaining preliminary plat approval and that portion of the property zoned B- 1 Business be rezoned to R-2 Medium Density Residential. Councilmember Strommen stated that ideally they would have an opportunity, to work with the Environmental Policy Task Force and have a tree preservation ordinance in place when addressing landscaping issues. She felt that the developer was doing an adequate job with trees, but she felt that they could do more. Mayor Gamec inquired if the berm would be maintained by Homeowners Association. Associate Planner Wald replied yes, explaining that the berm will be' manicured and sprinklered with an underground sprinkling system. Councitmember Kurak inquired if the entire berm is owned by the new development. Ms. Wald explained that there is only a small portion of the berm that is not owned by the developer. Councilmember Kurak inquired how they were going to be able to maintain the berm without going onto other people's property. Dave Schulte, DeveloPer, replied that both sides of the berm will be maintained by a landscaping company and they will be able to do so without going onto other people's property. Councilmember Strommen inquired if the new trees that are going to be added to the property will be maintained by the homeowners association. Mr. Schulte replied yes. City Council/January 14, 2003 Page 13 of 27 P39