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_____________________________________________________________________________________________ City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for May 8, 2019 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2018\PC 18-014 - Mounds View School District - 1900 & 1901 Lake Valentine Road\Memos Reports Page 6 of 14 Planting Islands – Flexibility Requested The Zoning Ordinance requires planting islands in parking lots to visually break up expanses of hard-surface parking areas, to provide safe and efficient traffic movement, and to define rows of parking. Planting islands must occupy at least ten (10) percent of the parking area, and must be edged with concrete curbs. Parking lot planting islands are also required to be a minimum of 150 square feet in area, be of appropriate width and length, and include at least one tree meeting the requirements of this ordinance. The Applicant is not proposing any planting islands, and is requesting flexibility to this provision. Tree Selection – Meets Requirements The proposed landscape plan includes a variety of tree species, including maples, oaks, ash and evergreens, ranging in size from 2-3 caliper inches. This is consistent with ordinance requirements. B. Lighting – Section 1325.05 Subd. 3 – Meets Requirements The plan proposes new lighting in the parking lot on the north side of Lake Valentine Road and in the new bus parking area on the south side of Lake Valentine Road. The Applicant submitted a photometric plan that indicates the lighting does not exceed 0.1 foot candles at the property boundary. This is less than the permitted 0.4 foot candles. C. Screening – Section 1325.05 Subd. 4 - Meets Requirements Mechanical operating equipment located on the ground or roof is required to be screened from adjacent streets. The proposed plans indicate rooftop mechanical equipment is screened by prefinished metal panels, which are complimentary to the building façade. D. Drainage Wetlands and Flood Plain – Section 1325.05 Subd. 2 This proposal involves significant grading on the site to accommodate the stormwater ponding, building additions, the access road around the building, new parking lot configuration, and new athletic field configuration. The original proposal called for a series of underground stormwater structures; however, the cost of these structures proved to be prohibitive. The revised drainage plans directs stormwater runoff to a large stormwater pond located north of Lake Valentine Road, west of Janet Court, and east of the existing bus storage building. The grading and drainage plan is under review by the City Engineer and the Rice Creek Watershed District. Comments from those reviews will be provided as soon as possible. E. Requirements for Parking, Loading, and Circulation – Section 1325.06 - Meets Requirements The existing circle drive in front of the school’s main entrance is the current bus drop-off and pick-up, where buses are parked side-by-side and nose-to-tail; this creates an unsafe condition