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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –April 5, 2023 10 Community Development Director Jagoe stated Lindey’s Prime Steakhouse opened in Arden Hills in 1961. The City established the Neighborhood Business District on September 27, 1999. Neighborhood Business sites are located at the edge of residential neighborhoods and are intended to provide a limited range of over-the-counter, convenience, retail, and service uses to accommodate the needs of the adjacent residents. Since these areas are located adjacent to residential neighborhoods, the City did adopt limitations on the type, size and intensity of uses within this district. On November 27, 2000, the City rezoned seven sites, including the Subject Property, to NB, Neighborhood Business District. Today, the Subject Property is considered legal nonconforming in this district. Community Development Director Jagoe explained the Applicants are applying for Site Plan Review for evaluation of the site layout and parking modifications that are being proposed as a result of the operational changes impacted by the County Road E/Old Snelling Avenue Roundabout project. There are no changes to the restaurant operations or the building as part of this application. As a legal nonconforming site, the County has allowed the continuation of use of the two driveway accesses along Old Snelling Avenue and one access off of County Road E. The access off of County Road E is a smaller commercial/residential driveway. With the roadway project, the Applicants are required by Ramsey County to eliminate one of the driveway accesses along Old Snelling Avenue in order to bring the property closer to conformance with current County standards. Thus, the proposed parking lot improvements have triggered the Site Plan Review process for reconfiguration of the site layout. Community Development Director Jagoe reported the Subject Property is approximately 1.5 acres which includes both a restaurant, a residential home, and a detached cottage. The main parking lot is located in the western and central portions of the lot. The site has significant tree canopy coverage with more green areas on the southern and eastern portion of the property. The parking lot reconfiguration will occur essentially within the same footprint that exists today with the exception of the addition of parking spaces between the building and eastern property line. For the Site Plan review, the proposed improvements include elimination of the southern most access on Old Snelling Avenue, upgrading the driveway access off of County Road E to full commercial standards, and the addition of parking stalls and a trash enclosure. Community Development Director Jagoe reviewed the surrounding area, site data, the Plan Evaluation and provided the Findings of Fact for review: 1. The Applicants have submitted an application for Site Plan Review at 3610 Snelling Avenue N. to resurface and reconfigure their existing parking lot that would include as part of the project scope the addition of a parking area along County Road E. 2.The Subject Property is located within the Neighborhood Business (“NB”) District and is guided as Low Density Residential on the 2040 Land Use Plan. 3.The Subject Property was developed prior to the City’s adoption of the Neighborhood Business District and is considered legal nonconforming as the existing parking lot does not comply with current city code requirements. 4. Through the Site Plan Review, the Applicants are seeking approval to resurface and restripe the existing portion of the parking lot within the same footprint. 5. The Applicants are proposing to add approximately 7,073 square feet of new impervious surface for an additional 13 parking spaces on the east side of the Subject Property. DRAFTatioatio s allowed s allow one acone access off ce /residential driveway/residential dri ty to eliminate one of thty to eliminate one o property closer to conproperty closer to con g lot improvements havt improvem e layout. e l Jagoe reported the Subreported the Sub urant, a residential homurant, a residential hom tern and central portiontern and central po reen areas on the southeen areas on the sout will occur essentially woccur essentially w dition of parking spacedition of parking view, the proposed impview, the proposed im ling Avenue, upgradling Avenue, upgrad and the additionand the additi DirDir