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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 19, 2013 2 <br /> <br />well as the property at 1120 Red Fox Road. They recently closed on the former Blue Fox property at <br />3833 Lexington Avenue, which consists of two parcels. The company is in the process of platting the <br />property to merge the two parcels together. The applicant is proposing a multi-phased <br />redevelopment at the southwest corner of Red Fox Road and Lexington Avenue that would include <br />all four parcels. In total, 7.57 acres would be included in the redevelopment project. <br /> <br />Project Description <br />Community Development Intern Bachler indicated Phase I would include the demolition of the Blue <br />Fox Restaurant and the construction of an approximately 15,000 square foot retail building for up to <br />nine tenants. Two of the larger retail bays have been designed to accommodate restaurant users. The <br />site plan includes a drive-up window located on the northern side of the building and outdoor seating <br />areas in front of the two restaurant bays. The primary building façade would be oriented to the west <br />towards what will become a larger retail center in Phase II and Phase III. As part of Phase I, the <br />applicant is proposing to remove the three access driveways on the Blue Fox property. The Phase I <br />building would share the driveways currently providing access to 3771 Lexington Avenue and 1120 <br />Red Fox Road. <br /> <br />Community Development Intern Bachler stated Phase II of the Master PUD development would <br />include a remodeling of the existing building at 1120 Red Fox Road. The building would be <br />reoriented to face east towards the Phase I building. Additional parking would be constructed for <br />this phase as well. The building is currently used as office and light manufacturing space and the <br />applicant intends to repurpose the building for retail uses. <br /> <br />For Phase III, the existing building at 3771 Lexington Avenue would be demolished and three new <br />buildings would be constructed on the lot. Two of these buildings would be two-stories with retail <br />uses on the main floor and office uses above. The third building would be single-story with all retail <br />tenants. During Phase III, the applicant has proposed removing the existing driveway access at 3771 <br />Lexington Avenue and adding a new curb cut entrance at the southern end of this property directly <br />across from the Target southern drive access. Ramsey County would condition this new access on <br />the installation of necessary traffic control at the intersection. <br /> <br />Community Development Intern Bachler explained the applicant is also requesting Preliminary Plat <br />approval for the site. Currently, the area that would comprise Phase I of the development is divided <br />between two separate parcels: 3833 and 3831 Lexington Avenue. The site is being replatted in order <br />to combine these two parcels. No subdivisions are taking place. <br /> <br />Planned Unit Development (PUD) Process <br />Community DevelopmentIntern Bachler commented the Planned Unit Development process is a <br />tool that provides additional flexibility for development that an underlying zoning district would not <br />otherwise allow. For example, a PUD may make exceptions to setbacks, lot coverage, parking <br />requirements, signage, building materials, or landscaping requirements. It is intended to overcome <br />the limitations of zoning regulations and improve the overall design of a project. While the PUD <br />process allows the City to negotiate certain aspects of the development, any conditions imposed on <br />the PUD must have a rational basis related to the impacts of the development. A PUD cannot be <br />used to permit uses that would not otherwise be permitted in the underlying zoning district. <br /> <br />In cases where a PUD covers multiple properties, the project is still often treated as one <br />comprehensive development; the development as a whole is expected to meet landscaping, <br />stormwater management, and other similar requirements, while individual properties are given <br />greater flexibility in achieving these standards. For example, one property within a PUD may have <br />