HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-04-19 RLK Ltr to OPH "ILK Engineering • Planning • Surveying • Landscape Architecture
KUUSISTO LTD
*sr. 196
April 19, 2001
Tom Melena
City Manager
City of Oak Park Heights
14168 Oak Park Blvd.
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Re: Rainbow Foods Fuel Center, Oak Park Heights, MN
Planned Unit Development Amendment /Conditional Use Permit /Sign Variance
RLK- Kuusisto, Ltd. Project No. 2001 - 256- M/Phase 13
Dear Mr. Melena:
On behalf of Rainbow Foods, RLK- Kuusisto, Ltd. is submitting 25 copies of the enclosed
information packets for City Council consideration of the above - referenced items. Each
informational packet includes the following items:
• 11 x 17 colored site plan of the Rainbow Foods grocery store and fuel center;
• 11 x 17 colored elevations of the fuel center;
• Detail design of the Stormceptor (Exhibit A);
• Detail design of the stormwater pond skimmer (Exhibit B);
• Detail diagram of fuel tanker truck movement (Exhibit C);
• Photometric lighting plan for the fuel center (Exhibit D);
• 11 x 17 site and engineering drawings.
On April 12 the City's Planning Commission considered the Rainbow Foods fuel center
and recommended approval by a unanimous vote. We appreciate the Staff and Planning
Commission's support of this exciting project, and look forward to reviewing this project
with the City Council on April 24 We would like to use this correspondence as an
opportunity to discuss several critical components.
Hours of Operation
Rainbow Foods concurs with Conditions 1 -9, and 11 -14 as described in the April 18
correspondence from Scott Richards to you. Rainbow Foods would like to discuss with
the City Council the fuel center's hours of operation. In summary, Condition 10 requires
an attendant to be physically positioned in the kiosk for the fuel center to be open for
business. Rainbow Foods is requesting this Condition is amended to allow the fuel center
and grocery store hours operation be the same.
Offices: Hibbing • Minnetonka • St. Paul • Twin Ports
(952) 933 -0972 • 6110 Blue Circle Drive • Suite 100 • Minnetonka, MN 55343 • FAX (952) 933 -1153
Equal Opportunity Employer
• Rainbow Foods Fuel Censer April 19, 2001
PUD Amendment /CUP /Sign t'ariance Page 2 of 3
Rainbow Foods views the fuel center and grocery store operations as one entity. Both the
grocery and fuel center will be advertised together, both will be maintained by Rainbow
Foods employees. both will be managed by Rainbow Foods employees, etc.; they are
seen by Rainbow as one operation. To have different hours of operation for the fuel
center and for the grocery store creates unnecessary confusion and inconvenience for the
Rainbow Foods customer as well as an added burden to Rainbow Foods management.
During the busiest hours of the days (generally between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.) an
attendant will be in the kiosk to assist Rainbow customers. However, between 10:00 p.m.
and 12:00 midnight (when the grocery store closes) the customer activity substantially
decreases and grocery store personnel will be more than able to adequately manage and
maintain the fuel center without an attendant in the kiosk. In addition, Rainbow Foods
will have in place several design and management components to ensure the safety of
Rainbow customers. These features include:
• Limit of $50 per purchase;
• Automatic shut -off of gas system at kiosk;
• Automatic shut -off of gas system at grocery store;
• Closed - circuit cameras located at fuel center wired directly to the grocery store;
• Direct telephone connection at the fuel center to grocery store;
• Direct telephone connection at the fuel center to 911;
• Emergency spill kit located at the fuel center and in the grocery store;
• Fire extinguisher placed on each column of the fuel center;
• Monitored on an hourly basis by Rainbow Foods personnel.
The above features, in conjunction with reduced customer activity during slower times of
the day or evening make it reasonable for the fuel center and the grocery store to have the
same hours of operation. We respectfully request the City Council amend Condition 10
to allow the fuel center and grocery store to have the same hours of operation.
Sign Variance
We appreciate the Planning Commission and Staff support for the sign variance. The
City's code limits signs on this site to one "wall sign" no larger than 150 square feet. We
are proposing a "Rainbow Foods" logo to be placed on each side of the fuel center
canopy, and a "price sign" placed on two sides of the fuel center canopy. This is a total
of six signs with a total of approximately 96 square feet. The total size of the signs
conforms to the City's code while the number of signs does not.
We believe the variance request is reasonable and that an undue hardship exists with a
literal interpretation of the City code. The fuel center is part of the Rainbow Foods
grocery store and is located significant distance from the nearest right -of -way. This
distance from the nearest right -of -way, in conjunction with the location of adjacent
buildings, obstructs the location of the fuel center. Absent full directional signage, site
visibility is seriously compromised because of the property layout. Few alternative
locations exist for the fuel center. Tenants adjacent to Rainbow Foods do not want the
fuel center in front of their stores, and adequate space is needed to accommodate _trucks
• Rainbow Foods Fuel Center April 19, 2001
PUD Amendment/CUP/Sign Variance Page 3 of 3
delivering fuel. Because the visual issue cannot be resolved by the fuel center location,
signage is needed on all sides of the canopy. We believe a sign variance is reasonable
and justified.
Again, we appreciate the assistance and support of City staff and consultants during the
review process for the Rainbow Foods fuel center. We look forward to visiting with the
City Council on these issues and others that may arise. Thank you in advance for your
time and consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
gitUenSe,biLY.LnKt
Steven Schwanke
RLK- Kuusisto, Ltd.
Cc: Larry Sharp, Rainbow Foods
Greg Munson. Fredrikson & Byron
Kris Danielson, City of Oak Park Heights
Scott Richards, Northwest Associated Consultants
Dennis Postier, Bonestroo, Rosene, & Anderlik