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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-07-12 NAC Memorandum NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS INC. MEMORANDUM TO: Oak Park Heights Mayor and City Council FROM: James Vick DATE: 12 July 1984 RE: St. Croix Bowl - CUP Amendment FILE NO: 798.02 - 84.11 BACKGROUND The St. Croix Bowl is proposing to add an observation deck to their existing structure and a temporary volleyball court in an adjacent vacant lot. Their location is on the western edge of the St. Croix Mall bordered by the VFW to the north, K -Mart to the east, vacant land to the south and Olene Avenue and residential development on the west. Being a part of the St. Croix Mall PUD, the St. Croix Bowl is bound to covenants in the PUD Development Agree- ment in addition to requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. ISSUES AND ANALYSIS Before an amendment to the conditional use permit is considered, there are a few site considerations which need to be addressed. Parking Lot The parking lot behind the St. Croix Bowl has 60,800 square feet of blacktop surface. While this areais� striped for parking, there are no islands, curbs, speed bumps, etc. to direct traffic through the lot. As a result, the parking lot has become a nuisance with cars speeding through and tires squealing. The Oak Park Heights Police Department has confirmed that complaints are frequent. Exhibit C, attached, shows a drawing of parking islands used in the other lots of the St. Croix Mall. Regardless of any expansion, a means of directing traffic through the lot is seen as a necessary addition to the St. Croix Bowl. Curbing. There is no curbing provided around the perimeter of the parking area. Topography on the western edge of the lot serves as a natural barrier. On the south border, the parking area and the adjacent vacant lot are on the same plane. Without any barrier, this area has become subject to traffic and vehicle parking. The result is a blighted area which no longer supports vegetation. 4820 minnetonka boulevard, suite 420 minneapolis, mn 55416 612/925 -9420 Oak Park Heights Mayor and City Council 12 July 1984 Page Two The south border of the driveway and parking lot should be provided with curbing or at least parking bumpers to keep vehicles off this area. In addition, the blighted area should be seeded to help establish vegetation and control dust. Landscaping The physical condition of the Olene Avenue Commercial Buffer has deteriorated to the point where its condition should be reviewed. Throughout the history of the St. Croix Mall PUD, the screening along this section has been questionable. In 1978, one year after planting, many of the plants had died due to lack of maintenance and winter kill. The situation was noted at that time and recommended for correction, including a three year performance bond for maintenance. Today, however, the condition of the boulevard is still deteriorated. The screening is sparce and ineffective. Lack of maintenance has caused the prominent growth to be scrub brush rather than domestic ornamental plants. Exhibit D, attached, is a screening concept used in other areas of the mall. Due to existing problems with the parking lot plus the additional impact of outdoor service and the volleyball court, the combined screening of fencing and landscape materials is recommended for the Olene Avenue Boulevard. Screened Deck; Outdoor Service The deck is proposed as a ten foot extension to the southeast corner of the building. This will bring the building just to the edge of the driveway. As such, it does not effect the required parking and aisle space, however, there is concern with the blind cross- walk it creates at the main entrance. The crosswalk should be striped on the blacktop to draw attention. In addition, speed bumps or an on -site stop sign should be provided to slow down traffic from the east. The entrance to the deck is proposed from inside the bar. In addition, a fire exit should be provided on the east end of the deck. While the inside entrance is seen as an advantageous situation for controlling the crowd, considerations to control noise must be addressed. During hours when bands are playing, the door to the deck must be closed. The Council may also want to consider placing hours of operation for the deck. (If additional screening is required as recommended above, the need for limiting use on the deck is diminished.) Volleyball Court. The volleyball court is proposed as a temporary structure on the adjacent vacant lot owned by Swager Bros. The impact of such use appears to be minimal for the site in question. The latest game is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. which allows them to finish at a reasonable hour. As such, there is no need for lighting. The nearest residential use is at least 400 feet away and screening which is seen as necessary for the parking area will double as a buffer for the activity around the court. Oak Park Heights Mayor and City Council 12 July 1984 Page Three Commercial recreation is a permitted use in the B -2 District, provided that the use and the site are in conformance with the Zoning Ordinance. The location of the volleyball court is the blighted area mentioned above in the "curbing" section. The clean -up of this area including curbing and vegetation should be a condition of approval for the proposed use. RECOMMENDATION Recommendation is made to approve the proposed observation deck and volleyball court subject to the following conditions: 1. The parking lot is provided with parking bumpers or curb islands. 2. Curbing is provided along the southern perimeter of the parking lot. 3. Speed bumps or a stop sign are provided in the driveway before the main entrance. 4. Screening acceptable with City standards is provided along Olene Avenue. 5. A fire exit is provided on the east end of the proposed deck. 6. Any additional recommendations by the City Attorney and City Engineer. cc: LaVonne Wilson Mark Vierling Brad Lemberg Kevin Coleman W Z � I y27 /�•�* a w CC O ,. zmz ! f Z I w 00� cn w f -- QZw a to HOa m l ow / N <R O w N z O pJ G p1CK 3 Po + c . — pERKIN AVE. N� I � O N L TR — R N3Atl O"1313N3d J OOPCH N AV 3SOa3SON z ��N3d N A / O N 3nV a3ll3d �r 3AV 83"113d N II N 'N 3ntl AOOetl d N 3AV AOOBtl3d N3AV NV7V3d WD i N 3� l0tld 4 z T N 3ntl siavd 3 \ o O N '3Atl VWVNVd H1 LLJ N AV 0808 %0 O N � i N L N ]AVN NVWSON 4� Q N J ---- -- w PVE N. ¢ d ORE" 3 J 3 f- a p 1 N n - N 3ntl `040 2 g N N 3nV 3N31O N _ N 3AV VONM 3ntl 13 m 'N AV 0731JGIO - I TD Y f U C Cr EXHIBIT A r`a Ain P N - -SITE- LOCATION MAP Q r: r � =--- *7 RECOMMENDED CURBING PR0P0SED 'OECK PRO "" "'"•'"'';/ VOLLEYBALL COURT RECOMMENDED SPEED BUMPS 8 L I I N Ti t1ON BLIGHTED AREA FROM VEHICLE � T� TRAFFIC AND PARKING ci RECOMMENDED CURBING i r PARKING ISLANDS OR CURB BUMPERS NEEDED _ TO BREAK —UP LOT ' N .� BOULEVARD NEEDS IMPROVED SCREENING 1 EXHIBIT 6 - -. _. �..q SITE CONSIDERATIONS a �YS , I +I i 1 1 w o 1I I f ,J I N I a� a� M �h "1 EXHIBIT C ` PARKING ISLANDS . . , . IWO * - EXHIBIT D LANDSCAPE SCHEME a _ A o c tu Q d ,� iii s Q Q Z 2 r ? 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