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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – NOVEMBER 24, 2014 9 <br /> <br />approve, deny or table this request. Both the motion to approve and the motion to table resulted in <br />a split vote (3-3). Therefore, the Planning Commission forwarded this Site Plan Review and <br />Variance request to the City Council with no recommendation. If the City Council approves the <br />Site Plan Review and Variance, staff has offered the following eight (8) conditions: <br /> <br />1. That the project shall be completed in accordance with the plans submitted as amended by <br />the conditions of approval. Any significant changes to these plans, as determined by the <br />City Planner, shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission and City <br />Council. <br />2. That the variance shall permit the reduction of landscaping coverage from 24.06% to <br />20.32% and increase the impervious coverage from 75.94% to 79.68%. <br />3. That the applicant shall submit a financial surety in the amount of 125 percent of the <br />estimated costs of landscaping prior to the issuance of a grading permit. The financial <br />surety shall be in the form of a letter of credit issued by a FDIC-insured Minnesota bank. <br />The purpose of the letter of credit is to ensure that landscaping is completed in the event <br />that the developer defaults on the approved plan. The City will hold the letter of credit for <br />two years after the installation of landscaping. The letter of credit should not expire during <br />the two-year period. <br />4. That the final tree and landscaping plan shall be approved by the City before the issuance <br />of the grading permit to ensure that the plan meets the landscaping regulations stated in <br />Section 1325.05 of the City Code. <br />5. That any newly created parking space or parking area shall meet the parking regulations <br />stated in Section 1325.05 of the City Code. <br />6. That a Grading and Erosion Control Permit shall be issued by the City before the <br />commencement of any construction, grading or disturbance of soil within the parking lot <br />area. <br />7. That a cross access easement agreement shall be filed with Ramsey County in order to <br />permit access to the new parking area from 1230 Grey Fox Road. <br />8. That the project shall be approved by the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked who would be responsible for maintaining the current swale <br />located between the two properties. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff indicated that the property owner currently maintains the swale between <br />1230 Grey Fox Road and 1160 Grey Fox Road. <br /> <br />John Thompson, Transwestern, explained that Traveler’s Insurance has occupied this site (1160 <br />Grey Fox Road) for the past 25 years. He reviewed the landscaping and beautification efforts that <br />Traveler’s has made along Dunlap Avenue. He noted that Taylor Corporation was interested in <br />renting a portion of this property which has led to the need for additional parking. He reviewed <br />how water currently runs off of the site, along with how the runoff would be managed through the <br />proposed holding pond. He noted that he recently signed a 5 year renewal with Taylor <br />Corporation with the understanding that the parking would be approved. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes requested further information on Venture Solutions. <br />