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City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for October 5, 2016 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2016\PC 16-024 - Arden Plaza - 1150 County Road E - Final PUD\Memos_Reports_16-024 Page 10 of 14 Rice Creek Watershed District MedExpress is currently in the process of submitting a permit application with the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). A RCWD permit will be required prior to the issuance of any City development permits. Discussion The main areas where the development deviates from the City Code are in terms of the proposed building materials, façade transparency, and signage. The development would exceed the City’s minimum requirements for caliper inches of new tree plantings, the percent of landscape lot area comprised of perennials or shrubbery, and the percent of the parking lot occupied by parking islands. While the B-2 District Design Standards discourage the use of simulated brick concrete panels, the specific product that is proposed for the MedExpress building would be very durable and have an appearance indistinguishable from traditional brick. Staff believes in this case the proposed material should be accepted as an alternative to the required brick masonry. The Design Standards allow the City to reduce or waive façade transparency requirements where privacy concerns warrant. The use of the building as a medical clinic presents privacy concerns for patients, and the proposed reduction in window transparency is therefore reasonable. The proposed building design still includes simulated windows on all façades to add visual interest to the building. Staff is supportive of some flexibility for the amount of wall signage, but believes the proposed 200 square feet is excessive. Additional signage is reasonable in this case given the orientation of the building. The location and amount of signage is needed to adequately identify the building and direct patients to the clinic. The City has granted flexibility through the PUD process in the past for additional wall signage for developments with similar orientation, including the Walgreens Pharmacy and the Lexington Station development. Walgreens was allowed a total of 156 square feet of wall signage, and the two end cap tenants at Lexington Station (Starbucks and Noodles & Company) were each permitted 140 square feet of signage. The staff recommendation is to allow MedExpress a maximum of 150 square feet of wall signage. A condition of approval has been included to limit wall signage to this amount. Findings of Fact Staff offers the following thirteen (13) findings of fact for consideration: 1. MedExpress has requested approval of a Final PUD for Phase II of the Arden Plaza Master PUD at 1150 County Road E West.