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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-06 NAC MemorandumN INC MEMORANDUM TO: Tom Melena FROM: Cynthia Putz-Yang 1 Scott Richards DATE: December 6, 2000 RE: Oak Park Heights - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Amendment of a Conditional Use Permit for Outdoor Sales FILE NO: 798.02 - 00.17 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has applied for an amendment to a conditional use permit to allow for expansion of the outdoor sales area west of the building at 5815 Norell Avenue. The expanded area will be used for storage of items related to outdoor sales. Item stored include semi-trailers that are used for inventory transporting, storage carts used for on- site inventory storage, and cardboard boxes or crates for recycling at their store at 5815 Norell Avenue. The subject area is located west of the building in the southwest corner of the property. Wal-Mart is proposing to screen the outdoor storage with berms, plantings, and a fence. Attached for reference: Exhibit A: Exhibit B: Exhibit C: Exhibit 0: ISSUES ANALYSIS NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS COMMUNITY PLANNING - DESIGN - MARKET RESEARCH Site Location Map Overall Site Plan of Existing Conditions Overall Landscape Plan of Existing Conditions Landscape Plan Comprehensive Plan and Zoning. The subject site is zoned CBD, Central Business District, in which open and outdoor sales as an accessory use is a listed conditional use. The land use plan found in the City Comprehensive Plan guides this area as 5775 WAYZATA BOULEVARD, SUITE 555 ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA 554 1 6 PHONE 612-595-9636 FAX 612-595-9837 E-MAIL NAC WINTERNET.COM Central Business District in which a retail use is conforming. The proposed outdoor sales is an accessory use relating to the indoor retail use. Conditional Use Permit Criteria. Section 401.301. E2 of the Zoning Ordinance requires the consideration of the following criteria for open and outdoor sales as an accessory use in the CBD, Central Business District: a. Outside service, sales and equipment rental connected with the principal use is limited to thirty (30) percent of the gross floor area of the principal use. Comment: The gross floor area of the building is 93,138 square feet. The outside sales area will not exceed 30 percent of this number. b. Outside sates areas are fenced or screened from view of neighboring residential uses or an abutting residential district in compliance with Section 401.15.E. of this Ordinance. Comment: With the existing berm and landscaping on the south side of the property, the area is not within view of residential uses or a residential district. c. All lighting shalt be hooded and so directed that the light source shall not be visible from the public right -of -way or from neighboring residences and shall be in compliance with Section 401.15. B.7. of this Ordinance. Comment: No new lighting is proposed. d. Sales area is grassed or surfaced to control dust. Comment: The area is surfaced with concrete. e. The provisions of Section 401.03.A.7 of this Ordinance are considered and satisfactorily met. Comment: With adequate screening, the proposed use is not expected to cause any adverse effects and is consistent with the provisions of Section 401 .03.A . 7. f. Boats, jet - skis, ATVs and other small motorized vehicles are stored indoors at night. Comment: None of these items are expected to be stored or sold. Screening. The items being stored are expected to generally range in height from eight to ten feet. The area is currently screened from 58 Street North by a five to six - foot -tall berm that is planted with eight to twelve - foot -tall spruce trees. A four - foot -tall berm planted with spruce, pine, and ash trees is proposed west of the storage area for screening of the view from Norell Avenue North. A six - foot -tall solid fence made of 2 western red cedar is also proposed at the northwest corner of the storage area to supplement the spruce trees between the storage area and Norell Avenue North. staff finds that the proposed ash trees will not provide adequate screening, especially in winter months, and would like to see a continuous band of evergreen trees on top of the berm with deciduous trees planted slightly west of the evergreen trees. The landscape plan is subject to the review and approval of the City Arborist. Ownership of Land. The proposed berm and landscaping are on a separate lot (Lot 4, Block 1 Wal -Mart Addition) that is also owned by Wal -Mart. The City would prefer Wal- Mart to combine the two Tots so that the use being screened and the screening occur on the same property. Location of Outdoor Sales/Storage. Parking is located north of the building; therefore, the use wilt have no impact on parking. Loading is located on the west side of the building. As long as the storage for the sales area is located near the west property line, it should not interfere with loading activities. The storage area must be limited to the portion of the site that is west of the building, south of the garden center, and close to the west property line on a paved surface. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the amendment to the conditional use permit to allow for expansion of the open and outdoor sales area at the store at 5815 Norell Avenue with the following conditions: 1. The applicant shall enhance the landscape plan by planting a continuous band of evergreen trees on top of the berm with deciduous trees planted slightly west of the evergreen trees. The landscape plan shall be subject to review and approval of the City Arborist. 2. The plans as they relate to existing easements or utilities are subject to City Engineer review and approval. 3. The applicant shall combine Lots 3 and 4, Block 1 Wal -Mart Addition so that the outdoor sales and the screening occur on the same property. 4. Material being stored must be related to the regular business of Wal -Mart. pc: Kris Danielson 3 ...1111111 141 11111 =1 . lg" m s yigiam......_ Pr — Into um • m 1. ig 1111 11111 11 iii KIL Iry mai =NM ma i■11111111‘. 11111111 Lulu u1 imiitimi 1111 111111 111110111M 111111 111011111111411111111 1111ii 111111111111111111111111 111111 1R11111111t1 hhIhhhhhihhl lin annum minium mown 11111111111111111111 111111111111 111111111111 111111 111111111111 111111111111 111111111111 'hill minium 11111111111 1 111 11111 11111101111 1111111111.111 11111111M Minn 111111111111 111111111111 mown 111111111111 Nem I ARM iuiwn 1E1111 U) ID 03 30 0) 0 0 0 (4) z 0 m w w 0 EXHIBIT A -; 4 4 Li • 4 Li - • t. 4 ' ' -------1---,, . r,■) - u 15 Hi 09 ) 3.,Ta z, 1