CCP 12-13-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER 29,1999 DRAFT 9 e With regard to building setbacks, Ms, McMonigal stated that the Ordinance required a 60-foot setback from State Highways or County Roads, The building setbacks from State Highways or County Roads are measured from roadway easement line, rather than the center ofthe road. She added that the new City Hall will be setback 60-feet from the roadway. With regard to parking setbacks, the Ordinance stated that parking between the front of the building and the roadway is not permitted. Ms. McMonigal stated that this issue had been discussed by the Planning Commission and the intent was for buildings to be set closer to the streets, with no parking lots between the streets and buildings, for a downtown effect. The parking would be along side, or to the rear of the building, The Ordinance would require a 20- foot building setback from the roadways to allow some green space between the roadways and the buildings, Ms, McMonigal stated that the Planning Commission had discussed two separate sets of development standards, downtown and traditional. The downtown standards allowed reduced setbacks for buildings to bring the buildings closer to the front. Lot sizes and minimum landscape lot area in the downtown standards were reduced and the lot covered by structure was increased, The Planning Commission had recommended the downtown set of development standards, with some modifications, e Mayor Probst stated that he had some conflicts with what was being accomplished. He indicated that the proposal was for more of a town center development with two or three story buildings containing cOlPIllercial on the first floor and residential on the upper floors, This seemed to him to be a down-sizing of the suburban model, not an urban town center model. He asked if other urban centers, such as Celebration, had been studied. Ms, McMonigal stated that, although she had visited Celebration, other urban centers had not been given a great deal of study, She had discussed with staff and the Planning Commission that the next step should be for additional study on the actual model of a downtown area, It was her belief that the City should take the time to consider items such as setbacks and the layout of the streets Mr. Post noted that steps to finalize this portion ofthe Civic Center Zoning District were not time critical since the Army National Guard will control the majority ofthe property for several years, Additionally, the only immediate uses that were proposed were the City Hall and the Ramsey County Public Works facility and the actual Civic Center area may be more of a long term vision, Mayor Probst concurred, With regard to the previous concern of prohibited uses, he indicated that the immediate projects which will occur within the next couple of years will deal with the issues that have been discussed. He indicated that it was likely issues will arise with Ramsey County regarding outdoor storage, e If the intent of the Civic Center Zoning District was to create a town center atmosphere, it will need to include active, vital pedestrian friendly spaces, In order to accomplish this, the