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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – May 6, 2015 2 <br /> <br />drive-thru windows are permitted as principal uses in the district. However, special regulations <br />for drive-thru windows in the B-3 District exist to ensure proper placement, design, and use. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff commented that the site is positioned north of the railroad tracks owned by <br />Canadian Pacific, south of Cub Foods, east of the Transwestern property occupied by Taylor <br />Corporation, and west of Lexington Avenue North. Other tenants within the retail center include <br />Subway, H&R Block, Great Clips, and UPS. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff explained that Caribou Coffee Company is requesting a Planned Unit <br />Development (PUD) Amendment to allow for the expansion of their business to include a <br />customer drive-thru lane and pick-up window. The pick-up window addition would be located on <br />the east side of the Shannon Square retail center requiring only minor modifications to the façade <br />in order to accommodate the 36 square foot addition. The modification would include the <br />removal of a façade section that is approximately eleven (11) feet in length in order to construct <br />the pick-up window addition. The existing side entrance door would be relocated to the southeast <br />corner. As indicated by the applicant, the drive-up window addition would be constructed with <br />masonry units to match the existing structure. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff stated that the construction of the drive-thru lane would involve the <br />reconfiguration of the parking lot on the eastern side of the building in order to accommodate the <br />drive-thru lane and vehicle stacking area. Sixteen (16) parking spaces would be eliminated from <br />the site to provide stacking for approximately twelve (12) vehicles within the drive-thru lane. The <br />sidewalk that currently exists on the eastern side of the building would be removed in order to <br />facilitate the drive-thru lane and pick-up window. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff indicated that the proposed plans also include the installation of a menu <br />board and speaker for placing orders and a canvas awning placed above the pick-up window to <br />shield customers. As depicted on the site plan a new landscaping island would be installed along <br />with additional landscaping within former parking stalls that are now adjacent to the area <br />required for vehicle stacking requirements. A new sidewalk and stairway connection from <br />Lexington Avenue to the retail center would be constructed to the north of the existing <br />connection to provide for safe pedestrian movements. New curb and gutter would also be <br />constructed within the drive-thru area to ensure proper drainage of the site. <br /> <br />Land Use Plan: <br />Site Data <br />COM – Commercial <br />Existing Land Use: COM – Commercial <br />Zoning: B-3 Service Business District <br />Current Lot Sizes: 4.04 Acres (Shannon Square & CUB = 9.07 Acres) <br />Topography: Fairly Flat <br /> <br />City Planner Streff reviewed the surrounding area, the Plan Evaluation and the Conditional Use <br />Permit Evaluation Criteria. <br /> <br />City Planner Streff reported that at the City Council Work Session on March 16, 2015, the <br />Council reviewed a concept plan for the drive-thru and pick-up window for Caribou Coffee. <br />During this review the Council discussed the width of the drive-thru lane, stacking counts and <br />timing, emergency vehicle access, distance of adjacent drive-thru businesses, and snow removal