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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-07 NAC MemorandumMEMORANDUM TO: Judy Hoist FROM: Scott Richards DATE: March 7, 2003 RE: Oak Park Heights — VSSA Oakgreen Village: CUP/PUD Concept Plan FILE NO: 798.02 — 02.33 REVISED PLANS Attached for reference: Exhibit 1: Revised Concept Plan ANALYSIS NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS INC. 5775 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 555, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Telephone: 952.596.9636 Facsimile: 952.595.9837 plannersPriacplanning.com ENCLOSURE 2 Valley Senior Services Alliance (VSSA) has provided revised plans for a PUD Concept Plan approval for that area west of Oakgreen Avenue and north of 58 Street. The Planning Commission, at their February 13, 2003 meeting, continued the public hearing to the March Planning Commission meeting pending the submittal of additional information. The February 6, 2003 planning report outlined the unresolved issues and information required to complete a concept plan review. The project architect has provided a revised plan indicating changes to that area east of Novak Avenue North. The plan addresses some of the issues, but not all that were identified in the February 6, 2003 report. Plan Details. The revised plan indicates a change in the number of units in the apartments (labeled as 17 on the site plan) from 50 units in each to 45. As a result, the two apartment buildings east of Novak Avenue will have a total of 90 units, instead of 100 units. The configuration of townhomes has also changed. The townhomes of Phase 1 now total 87 units in 12 buildings. Phase 2, near Oakgreen Avenue, has a total of 23 units in four buildings. The total number of townhome units is now planned at 110 units, instead of 100 units. The townhome units have also been reconfigured to provide 65 feet from building to building and a 23 foot drive aisle. Adequate space is now provided to allow parking in front of the townhome garages. Staff comments on the revised plans include: • The access roadway between Novak Avenue and 58 Street is proposed to be a public street. The plans indicate the driveways of townhomes 9 and 10 accessing directly on the street, which is regarded as a traffic issue and not allowed by the Zoning Ordinance. • The City Engineer has indicated that too many access points for the townhomes and apartments are provided to the public street. The plan should be revised to address the access issue. • The townhomes on Oakgreen Avenue as part of Phase 2 have been pulled further west to allow for additional separation to the roadway. The plat will need to be revised so at least 40 feet of right -of -way can be retained from the centerline of Oakgreen Avenue North. • Townhome 6 in Phase 1 is set back 25 feet from the boundary line of Phase 1 and 2. At least a 30 foot separation should be provided if the project is constructed in phases. • Staff has previously recommended that the Oakgreen Avenue townhomes be constructed in the same phase as the other townhome development. The Planning Commission and City Council should comment on this issue. • Staff recommends that VSSA obtain written approval from Xcel Energy on the construction of a roadway and the ponds within the power line easement. • The City Engineer has indicated that stormwater will be redirected into a different watershed district from where it currently drains. Written approval from the affected watershed districts should be obtained by the applicant. issues /Recommendations from February 6, 2003 Memo. Following is a list of issues and recommendations from the February 6, 2003 memo with a response to each: 1. The preliminary plat needs to be revised to include lot and block numbers and keep stormwater ponds on the same tots as adjacent buildings. 2 Response: A revised preliminary plat has not been submitted. 2. Forty feet of right -of -way should be dedicated from the centerline of Oakgreen Avenue North to allow space for future improvements. Response: The preliminary plat will need to be revised to address this issue. 3. The extension of Novak Avenue North must be redesigned to be completely on the subject property, or the applicant must reach an agreement with the adjacent property owner for the street to be partly on the adjacent property consistent with the submitted plans. Response: A preliminary plat has not been submitted to address this issue. VSSA representatives have indicated that they will address this issue. 4. The phasing plan must be revised to include ail areas of the development including ponds and streets. Response: A revised phasing plan has not been submitted. 5 The phasing plan must put the areas along Oakgreen Avenue labeled C1 and E in the same phase. Response: The revised plan indicates the townhome project will stilt be completed in two phases. The Planning Commission and City Council should comment on this issue. The applicant must address concerns regarding the close spacing of buildings and potential difficulty in maneuvering fire equipment. Response: The revised plan addresses this issue but the plan should be subject to review and approval of the Fire Marshal. The Parks Commission should make preliminary comments regarding open space, park land needs, and sidewalk/trail locations. Response: Minutes of the February Parks Commission meeting will be provided to the Planning Commission and City Council. 8. The trail and landscaping south of 59 Street should extend all the way to Oakgreen Avenue North. Response: The revised plans indicate a trail to Oakgreen. 3 9 Information related to land market value should be provided to calculate park dedication requirements. Response: Representatives of VSSA have indicated that they would prefer to submit the information as part of General Plan review. The Parks Commission would like an indication at this time of the potential cash park dedication for this development. 1 0. The applicant should respond to any comments from the City Engineer regarding drainage and utility plans. Response: The City engineer has made preliminary comments and will issue a separate report. 1 '1. Any other comments from City staff, Planning Commission, Parks Commission, and City Council. Approval Timing. The initial application for this development was submitted in December 20, 2002. The City sent the applicant a letter indicating that the timeline for review would be 120 days. The project will need to be acted upon by the City Council at their April 8, 2003 meeting, thus not allowing for another review by the Planning Commission in April. An additional 30 day extension has been requested from the applicant to address the timeline issue. RECOMMENDATION 1 CONCLUSION Numerous issues that were raised by the City staff and Planning Commission have not been adequately addressed by the applicant. In addition, the new site plan raises additional issues, primarily with the direct access from garages to a public street and the overall number of driveways along this roadway. The current Concept Plans and supplemental information is not adequate to recommend favorably for Concept Plan approval. With the approval timing issues, staff has requested the applicant provide at least a 30 day extension to allow staff and the applicant to address the remaining concerns before the April 1 0, 2003 meeting. If an extension is not granted, it is recommended that the Planning Commission deny the application based upon a findings of fact that will be prepared before the meeting or send the application to the City Council without a recommendation. 4 r- er eH [.u: J U: 14a S e n i o r - Housing Partners s ■0A ■.a a.MOOS•■NR0.•AO000O.■■Isr 1 ■saasasAMR ;1 F 7 SIMal.a. LL .... • •ala aa•la ariaala WeaMaaala OWN aft. MU. Caa*,0lea Rein ARCHITECTS • • • • VSSA OAXGREIEN VILLAGE OM PARK MGM'S. Lei 651-631-8301 p.2 a • o • • • � Z� EXHIBIT 1 1