06-13-22-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – MAY 23, 2022 6 MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve Resolution #2022-034 – Supporting Ramsey County for a roundabout improvement at the intersection of County Road E and Old Snelling Avenue. The motion carried 3-2 (Councilmembers Holden and Radziej opposed). B. Resolution 2022-032 – Site Plan Review – 4400 Round Lake Road W (Baker Hostetler LLP/Saltbox) – PC 22-007 City Planner Jagoe stated at their March 21, 2022 meeting the City Council reviewed a concept plan for a company called Saltbox. Saltbox offers flexible warehouse and office suites that are leased by individual businesses, usually startup/small digital commerce companies. They currently have five (5) locations across the United States. The intent of Saltbox is to provide an all-inclusive collaborative workspace to small businesses by providing the essential operations and logistical infrastructure that enables a business to start and scale its growth. Saltbox will be remodeling the interior of the building to construct flexible work spaces that can be used as either warehouse, office, or some combination of the two. Suites will range in size from 76 sq. ft. up to approx. 2,000 sq. ft. The suites are constructed with 10’ high modular walls that are open above with no ceilings. Each suite is equipped with power, HVAC, and Wi-Fi as well as access to a shared central loading dock for shipping/delivery needs. Each Saltbox facility is designed with conference rooms, huddle rooms/lounges, bathrooms, main entry/welcoming area, and a break room that are shared by the small business tenants. The facility is open seven (7) days a week from 6 AM to 11 PM. City Planner Jagoe explained Saltbox employs Operations Specialists that handle the on-demand logistical services for receipt and delivery of packages, plus they are able to provide order fulfillment assistance to the small business owners. A package that is delivered to Saltbox is received by the Operations Specialist at the loading dock. The Saltbox employee then distributes smaller boxes to the individual suites or there is secured warehouse space for larger packages. Saltbox employees are onsite from 8 AM to 6 PM. The Applicant has stated this window of time is when 95% of their activity is expected to occur City Planner Jagoe reported the Arden Hills location would be for 214 warehouse and office suites with an estimated maximum occupancy of 398 members and 15 Saltbox employees. Saltbox would say that their flexible business model means that the 398 members would not be at the facility at the same time, but rather come and go at the needs of their individual business. As part of the improvements to the property, the Applicant is proposing to reconfigure the parking lot layout that would result in the immediate addition of 36 parking spaces and also identifies an area as proof of parking as a placeholder for future installation of parking spaces. Therefore, the Applicant is pursuing the Site Plan Review for the additional parking spaces. City Planner Jagoe reviewed the Plan Evaluation and offered the following Findings of Fact: 1. The Applicant has submitted an application for Site Plan Review to install striping for additional parking spaces at the subject property 4440 Round Lake Road W. 2. The Subject Property is located with the Gateway Business District and is guided as Light Industrial & Office on the 2040 Land Use Plan.