Agenda - Council Work Session - 01/21/2003

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subdivisions. The City will prepare a traffic impact study at the developers .expense for consideration at the preliminary plat stage. A detailed grading and drainage plan will be reviewed as part of the preliminary plat stage. All necessary easements will have to be shown on the preliminary plat and dedicated on the final plat. At a minimum, it is expected that the developer will be required to construct a trail along the south side of Sunwood Drive. The Park Commission will be reviewing the plat for park dedication requirements. Staff will require, the applicant to submit a tree .preservation plan for the proposed development. The City does have a density transition ordinance in effect. The plat abuts an urban single family neighborhood to the east and south The density transition ordinance provides for several transitioning options for the City to consider. These include the use of landscape buffering, the matching of densities, or other alternatives as agreed upon by the developer and the City. Staff will be meeting with the applicant prior to the Planning Commission meeting to discuss possible density transitioning .options. Given the interest that the surrounding neighborhood has in regards to the development of the property, staff'is' thinking that a .mutually agreeable density transitioning plan should be worked on between the City, the developer, and the neighborhood. Portions of the proposed parcel to be developed are contained in the Shoreland Overlay District. Sunfish Lake is classified as a Recreational Development Lake and land within 1000 feet of the Ordinary High Water mark are required to comply with the shoreland regulatiot~s. These regulations include a minimum of 15,000 square feet for each lot and a width of 75 feet at the building line. Under the Shoreland Ordinances, a PUD that alters the minimum dimensional standards can be considered, but it must be approved by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources before the City approves the development. As the application of shoretand standards could dramatically impact the layout of the subdivision, staff suggests that a meeting be arranged with DNR officials as soon as possible to get their feedback on the proposed development. As this development is occurring within the Shoreland Overlay District, City Code requires that certain environmental review occurs and criteria is met. As part of the preliminary plat review, staff will be reviewing the material submitted to ensure compliance. Recommendation: The development departs from the normal City standards for lot size, lot width, and road right-of- way widths and if approved, will be a unique development for the City of Ramsey. The proximity of the lots to each other and the use of specific architectural treatments gives the development an old-time neighborhood feel. The development proposal contains elements of neo~traditional, new urbanist philosophy that emphasize pedestrian scale through the use of sidewalks, smaller than typical lots and streets, and the use-of architectural treatments such as .front. porches. Given the uniqueness of the proposed development and the proposed density of about 4.5 units per. net acre, staff finds the sketch plan generally acceptable subject to Planning Commission, City Council, and DNR comments. Commission Action: Motion to approve the sketch plan contingent upon compliance with the .City Staff Review Letter dated December 27, 2002. . -7-