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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-06-07 NAC Planning ReportPLANNING REPORT TO: Eric Johnson FROM: Scott Richards DATE: June 6, 2007 RE: Oak Park Heights Menards Garden Center Site Plan and Design Guidelines Review FILE NO: 798.02 07.05 BACKGROUND Scott Nuttleman, representing Menard Inc., has made application for a site plan /Design Guidelines review for a remodel of the exterior of the garden center, including the addition of bi -fold doors and a new entrance for the Menards store at 5800 Krueger Lane North. The changes to the exterior of the structure are minor and will not change the overall appearance of the store. The subject site is currently zoned B-2, General Business District. No conditional use permits or variances are necessary for this request, thus a formal public hearing is not required. A mailing was sent to notify neighboring properties of the application and invite them to speak at the Planning Commission meeting. Site plan and design review requires Planning Commission consideration and City Council approval. Attached for reference: Exhibit 1: Exhibit 2: Exhibit 3: Exhibit 4: Exhibit 5: Exhibit 6: Exhibit 7: NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, NC. 4800 Olson Memorial Highway, Suite 202, Golden Valley, MN 55422 Telephone: 763.231 .2555 Facsimile: 753.231 .2561 planners@nacplanning.com May 15, 2007 Letter from Scott Nuttleman Scope of Project with Photographs (5 pages) Photo of Outdoor Storage Racks Site Plan Remodel Plan Building Elevations Photos of Store (to be distributed at Planning Commission meeting) E Nit ANALYSIS Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan guides the subject site for commercial use and as such, the proposed changes at the Menards store are in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. Zoning. The subject site is zoned B -2, General Business. The garden center and retail store were previously granted CUP and site plan approvals. The most recent City approvals for the store addition and remodel were approved by the City in January of 2004. Proposed Project. The remodel of the garden center includes enclosing the front entrance with windows and sliding glass doors as well as placement of four bollards at the entrance with the associated footings and sidewalk improvements. The remodel will fully enclose the front entrance during inclement weather and will improve site appearance and accessibility of the store. Additionally, the remodel will involve installation of three "bi -fold" doors, two "overhead" doors, and one "person- sized" door along the west side of the garden center. The doors will allow Menards to close off and protect the garden center in the event of inclement weather and to close the area at night and during the winter months. Menards has indicated that the resulting benefits should be a reduction in noise and in providing interior light shielding. The applicant has provided existing as well as after photos for the proposed improvements. The after photos are from a store that has a different layout from the Oak Park Heights store and the proposed photos are of bi -fold doors that include glass above the hinges. Staff has requested that the overhang of green steel shall extend from the roof line to the point of the uppermost hinges of the doors. This will assist in light shielding. Other Screening. Staff has also requested as part of this application to address a screening issue on the south elevation of the store. Exhibit 3 indicates a photo of storage racks that extend above the green steel overhang. The storage racks can be seen from adjoining properties. As part of this approval process, Menards representatives have agreed to lower the overhang so that it is consistent with the overall facade. TrailslSidewalks. Staff has noted that there are no sidewalks or trails adjacent to Krueger Lane on the Menards side of the street. The Planning Commission and City Council are asked to comment on this issue and whether pedestrian access should be added. Landscaping, Signage and Engineering. There are no landscaping, signage or engineering issues related to this application. Lighting. Staff has noted that garden center lights are visible outside of the building and are not shielded to a full cut off. As part of this approval, it is recommended that all of the garden center lights under the canopy be shielded. Plans for shielding shall be subject to approval of City staff. 2 Design Guidelines. There are no issues related to the proposed remodel and conformance with the Design Guidelines. CONCLUSION 1 RECOMMENDATION The applicant has submitted the necessary materials for the proposed application. The proposed remodel and minor site changes are consistent with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and Design Guidelines, as well as the direction of the Comprehensive Plan. Based upon the information contained in this report, our office recommends approval of the site plan and Design Guidelines review of the Menards garden center remodel subject to the following conditions: All changes to the sidewalk, crosswalk and addition of the bollards are subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. 2. The green overhang panels shall be installed above the door hinges to the roof line for the bi -fold and overhead doors on the west elevation of the garden center. 3. Green overhang panels shall be added on the south elevation to cover existing storage racks, resulting in a consistent overhang on the facade. 4 The Planning Commission and city Council should comment on whether a sidewalk or trail should be added on the west side of Krueger Lane adjacent to Menards and/or on the north side of 58 Street. 5 The garden center lights under the canopy shall be shielded to full cut off. Plans for shielding the lights shall be subject to review and approval of City staff. 3 MENARD May 15, 2007 Mr. Eric A. Johnson City Administrator City of Oak Park Heights 14168 Oak Park Blvd N Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 Re: Development Application Menards Bi-Fold Door Remodel Dear Eric, Ea 4777 MENARD DRIVE EAU CLAIRE, WI 54703-9625 VIA OVERNIGHT MAIL (651) 439-4439 u MAY 1 6 2007 uL As we have previously discussed, Menard, Inc. intends to undertake a remodel of the "Garden Center" area of its existing store in the City of Oak Park Heights. The primary purpose of this remodel is to address issues with damage occurring to products stored and displayed in the Garden Center resulting from storms, high winds, cold temperatures and other inclement weather. The remodel will also improve the functionality of the Garden Center during winter months. This same remodel has been completed or is being undertaken at all of the other Menards stores throughout the country that have a Garden Center. The remodel involves the installation of three "bi-fold" doors, two "overhead" doors and one "person-sized" door along the outside edge of the current overhang covering our outdoor Garden Center. The "hi-fold" doors are similar to those used in aircraft hangers and will allow us to close off and protect the Garden Center in the event of high winds or other inclement weather as well as to close the area at night and during the winter months. At all other times, the doors will remain open and the overhang area will function in the same way as it does currently. The other smaller doors mentioned above will also be installed along the edge of the overhang and will allow employees and merchandise to move between the inside and outside of the Garden Center area when the "bi-fold" doors are in the closed position. Other aspects of this remodel include the demolition of the existing Garden Center fence and gate entrance, installation of windows and sliding glass doors for the new Garden Center entrance, placement of four new bollards at the front of the Garden Center entrance, and installation of associated footings, sidewalks and structural steel for and near the new entrance to the Garden Center. These additional enhancements will allow the Garden Center to be more fully enclosed during inclement weather events and will improve the appearance and accessibility of the Garden Center in general. There should also be benefits to surrounding property owners in the form of noise reduction and additional light shielding on the Garden Center side of the store. As you requested at our meeting on May 9 I have adjusted the proposed elevations to show green steel being used all the way down to the point where the doors are attached to the overhang. This will provide additional light shielding benefits. Please keep in mind that this proposed remodel will not allow us to fully enclose or heat the Garden Please find enclosed herewith the completed Development Application along with a check for the required fee made payable to the City of Oak Park Heights. Also enclosed is one full set of the following items: site plan (24"x36" and 11"x17"), remodel plan (24"x36" and 11"x17"), building elevations (24"x36" and 11"x 1 7"), a parcel search of all property owners within 500' of Menard's property provided by Washington County, and photographic presentation of the proposed remodel (including pictures of your Oak Park Heights Menards) for your review. Please note that the areas of the remodel plan and elevations that will be affected by the proposed remodel are "clouded". If there are any other materials that 1 can provide to assist in your review of this matter, please let me know and I will make every effort to deliver the materials to you as soon as possible. EXHIBIT 1 PHONE (715) 876-5911 FAX (715) 876-5901 Mr. Eric Johnson Page 2 City of Oak Park Heights May 15, 2007 Center, even when all of the doors are in the closed position (the portion of the overhang on the back side of the store will remain "open air"). The enclosed photographic presentation provides a more detailed list of the proposed changes and will also aid in visualizing how the Garden Center will look after the remodel has been completed. However, please keep in mind that the "after" pictures are from a store that has a different layout from the store in Oak Park Heights and that the pictures of the proposed bi-fold doors do not take into account the additional green steel that will be used (in lieu of clear polycarbonate) above the door hinges of your store. This remodel will not result in any structural changes to the store, nor will it result in a change of product lines, any major change in the store's operation or any change to the traffic flow patterns in the store's rear yard area. On the other hand, the proposed changes will improve the functionality of our current Garden Center, enhance the visual appearance and accessibility of this portion of the store, and result in sound and light reduction benefits to neighboring property owners. For these reasons, Menard, Inc. hereby respectfully requests that the City approve the remodel of the Menards Garden Center as detailed in the enclosed materials. Thank you for your time and your attention to my request. If you have any questions or if I can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me using the information provided below. Very truly yours, Menard,-inc. ott uttelman eal Estate Associate Phone: (715) 876-2383 Fax: (715) 876-5960 Mobile: (715) 577-0363 snuttelm@menard-inc.com Enclosures Menard, Inc. Garden Center Remodel Projects Scope Of Project Installation of three Bi-fold (hanger type) doors, two overhead doors and one single man-door on the side of the Garden Center: Concrete Footings and Bollard Installation Structural Steel Erection Painting Door Installations Electrical for the Bi-fold and Overhead Doors Finish Steel and Clear Panel Installation Installation of glass auto doors and windows along the front of the Garden Center Demo of Existing Wrought Iron Gate and Fence Concrete Footings, Retaining Wall and Sidewalk Limited Steel Framing Auto Door and Front Glass Installation Electrical Relocation for the Garden Center Registers and Power for the Auto Doors EXHIBIT Proposed Overhang with Bi-Fold Doors Current Oak Park Heights Garden Center Overhang Current Oak Park Heights Garden Center Overhang (Viewed from Inside Garden Center) Proposed Bi-Fold Doors (Viewed from Inside Garden Center) Current Oak Park Heights Garden Center Entrance with Wrought Iron Gate Proposed New Garden Center Entrance with Automatic Glass Doors Proposed Bi-Fold Doors in the Closed Position Door Controls and Safety Signage EXHIBIT 3 4'4 t 1:4 r.J gg V.• 4 t:W=MIZa:M1:.?:),nRZLZ\AL- 9C AMMO 1 I I-1 01 z iffedRAH RI,L4 110.17MVILt otasca 1 0. 1.1 0- LLJ x 0 0 0 0 z uJ LL.1 0 Cif: CL _1 0 2 z 1 171 1.- (t) IP 8 I i4 g 1- A 2 2 173