CCP 08-31-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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, ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - AUGUST 5.1998 2 Mr. Ringwald reviewed the site plan is not significantly different that the plans shown at the January of 1998 Town Hall meeting. However, those original plans provided access to the site . via an existing interior dirt driveway off of the northerly extension of Hamline A venue. The new access to the site is via a full movement access onto Highway 96. The new point of access is approximately halfway in between Hamline Avenue and Lexington Avenue. A median cut in Highway 96 is required to provide full movements to the site. The site plan also provides for future access to the dirt driveway, if additional activities (ie., Joint Public Works facility) are developed on TCAAP. Mr. Ringwald said the site plan provides for substantial open space around the building. The building and its associated parking meet the setback requirements. Parking for the City Hall is provided in two general areas; the visitor parking which is directly east of the building and the employee/service parking area which is adjacent to Highway 96. Mr. Ringwald described the building as a walkout design toward Sunfish Lake. The site plan illustrated this design and showed the natural slope down to the lake, which offers an excellent opportunity for the walkout configuration. The exterior of the building is proposed to be Kasota stone, but includes a brick as an alternate. Mr. Ringwald provided information on the plans for grading, indicating the plan calls for two patio areas one north of the building and one west of the building. The grading plan provides for sheet draining of the parking area to the northeast so as to maintain the hydrology of an existing wetland which exists there. The proposed drainage plan was formulated with the assistance of . the Rice Creek Watershed District. Mr. Ringwald referred to a bench handout which revised thc employee parking area. The modification relocated the HV AC systems from the entry way to the southeast comer of the building which slightly shifted the cmployee parking area to the east. The plan conforms with the Zoning Ordinance which requires that all exterior storage shall be screened from public view. A small screencd cnclosure at thc comer of the building will satisfy this requirement. Mr. Ringwald said the landscape plan will enhance the prairie theme which currently exist on the site. The employee parking lot is screened by evergrcens and larger oak trees are clustered out from the building. Generally, the rest of the site will consist of native grasses. Mr. Ringwald said that the proposed lighting would be minimal and situated at the points of entry, and the employee parking lot. The main concern of lighting is for safety purposes and the plan meets or exceeds the specifications of the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Ringwald stated staffrecommends approval of Planning Case #98-09, Special Use Permit for a 15,102 square foot City Hall subject to nine conditions stated in the Staff memorandum dated August 5,1998. If the Planning Commission makes a recommendation on this Planning Case, it would be heard at the Monday, August 31, 1998, regular meeting of the City Council. . --