Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-10-26 Financial Properties Dev. Ltr to Mayor & Council FINANCIAL PROPERTIES DEVELOPERS, INC. 5825 GLENRIDGE DR.,N.E. • ATLANTA,GEORGIA 30328 • 404/252-8220 October 26, 1978 The Honorable Mayor Donald Mondor and Members of the City Council Village of Oak Park Heights c/o Mr. Norris M. Swager Oak Park Development Company, Inc. 5898 Omaha Avenue, North Stillwater, Minnesota 55082 RE: Proposed K mart St. Croix Mall Oak Park Heights, Minnesota Dear Sirs: As you are aware, Financial Properties Developers, Inc. has received a commit- ment from K mart Corporation for the development of a 55,552 sq. ft. K mart facility as an expansion of the existing St. Croix Mall. Per Village regula- tions, the K mart building layout and proposed parking facilities have been submitted to Mr. Steve Ryan of Midwest Planning for review. Mr. John Lux of Oak Park Development Company, Inc. has transmitted the Midwest Planning review comments to Financial Properties. We have evaluated the Midwest Planning site plan revision requests and respectfully offer the following summation of the Financial Properties/K mart Corporation position: Item #1 - Six foot screen fence Midwest Planning Request: Provide six foot rough sawn fence along the south side of the Oak Park Development parcel adjacent to the existing residential community. Comment: Will comply. Financial Properties Developers, Inc. will pro- vide said six foot fence in conformance with the fence detail currently approved. The extend of the Financial Properties fence provision shall coincide with the extent of paving provided by the K mart construction phase adjacent to the above referenced subdivision. Item #2 - Triangular island configuration and associates parking between the existing facility off-set and the K mart building face Midwest Planning Request: Revise the perimeter drive alignment in such a way as to provide 45 degree turns connecting the existing perimeter drive to the K mart perimeter drive at the face of the K mart building. Provide ten 90 degree parking stalls along the southeast side of the perimeter drive adjacent to the resulting triangular walkway area. The Honorable Mayor Donald Mondor and Members of the City Council October 26, 1978 Page 2 Comment: Financial Properties initially proposed this configuration to K mart Corporation the early part of this year. K mart Corporation rejected said layout, basing its commitment approval upon the layout as presently proposed by Richard L. Bowen & Associates of Cleveland. It is felt that the 90 degree parking stalls which would utilize the front perimeter K mart drive are extremely hazardous and that stream- lining the off-set between the existing center and K mart would en- courage rapid movement of vehicles through the K mart pedestrian walk- way area. Item #3 - TBA parking stalls Midwest Planning Request: Provide concrete curb in lieu of proposed paint-out area surrounding the five parking stalls provided adjacent the TBA facility. Comment: Due to limited relief in the TBA area, provision of curbing as requested would impede the flow of surface drainage requiring a re- duction in the net slope of the paving surface to a level below the recommended 1% minimum. From K mart's position, curbing of this area would not be acceptable. Except where required to control embankments or drainage, it is K mart's policy to eliminate interior curbs. K mart currently is managing some 1,900 facilities across the United States, and through experience gained regarding maintenance, snow removal and safety, has adopted a rigid posture on the question of interiod curbed islands. Item #4 - Sidewalk at K mart building rear Midwest Planning Request: Provide a concrete sidewalk along the south side of the K mart building. Comment: K mart's standard building provides for four standard personnel entrys connecting to the stock room, waste paper room and support facilities area in addition to a standard set of stock room loading entrys. Due to the interior building layout, no public access will be granted along the rear of the building. A compactor pad will be pro- vided at the southwest corner of the K mart facility. A 41'6" asphalt drive has been provided and is required for proper loading and vehicular access. From a management/liability standpoint, the above requested rear walk would not be acceptable. Item #5 - Traffic flow direction Midwest Planning Request: Reverse the flow of traffic in the K mart parking area adjacent to KFC in order to improve circulation in con- junction with the out lot facility. Comment: Will comply contingent upon K mart Corporation approval. Re- sistance is not anticipated. The Honorable Mayor Donald Mondor and Members of the City Council October 26, 1978 Page 3 Item #6 Midwest Planning Request: Provide curbed islands at extremities of all parking bays. Comment: See comment - Item #3 above. As a developer, it is Financial Properties' policy to conform to all applicable regulations and to cooperate fully with local agencies. The uniqueness of the St. Croix Mall site configuration, however, presents several special K mart re- lated planning needs and unfortunately, limits our planning flexibility. Financial Properties is looking forward to the completion of the St. Croix Mall K mart facility, however, it is necessary to resolve the above issues critical to the satisfaction of our tenant, K mart Corporation, prior to consummation of the land purchase and construction start-up. To that end, we respectfully request that you consider our position regarding approval of the K mart portion of the St. Croix Mall PUD plan. Kindest regards, FINAN IAL PRO ES DEVELOPERS, INC. oseph L. ancaster, P.E. Project Coordinator JLL:kb cc: Arthur Heyman, President, Financial Properties Developers, Inc.