CCP 09-30-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - SEPTEMBER 4, 2002 3 Chair Sand asked for the overall height of the building. Mr. Parrish replied it was 29 feet . and the building height limitation was 35 feet. Cathy Smithknecht asked if the decks would be used and how big would they be. l\1r. Nelson replied they could be used the tenants and they were 12 feet by 12 feet. He indicated this design was by far the most attractive design they had seen. Paul W. Muilenberg, Manager of Corporate Affairs, Croix Oil Company, 1749 South Greeley Street, P.O. Box 15, Stillwater, MN 55082, by letter dated Augnst 30, 2002 stated Croix Oil Company owned the Spur-branded gasoline station/convenience store located at 3110 Cleveland Avenue, across the street from the proposed development. He expressed support of this project, and believed that an office building would be an excellent addition to that intersection and encouraged support of the development project. Mark McGuire, 2030 Glen Paul Avenue, stated the following neighbors were opposed to this proposal: Ruth McGuire, 2030 Glen Paul Avenue; Monte and Bonnie Arhard, 2014 Glen Paul Avenue; Don and Melanie Ristow, 2033 County Road D; and Kim Luger, 2026 Glen Paul Avenue. He stated the neighbors did not want the proposed building to be oversized. He stated the adjacent houses were one story ramblers. He stated they wanted proper screening. He noted if the building was going to be bigger, there needs to be more screening provided. He stated there would be very little screening to the north. He indicated they wanted the new building to blend in with the surrounding homes and to make sure there was proper landscape screening for adjacent neighbors. He stated the proposed river birch trees provided very little screening in the winter, they were slow . growing, and they were not recommended by a landscape design engineer or the Minnesota horticultural society. He stated pyramidal arborvitae would provide screening and thrive in moist or wet fertile soil. He indicated on-street parking would create traffic problems. He noted there was no room for on-street parking unless the City cut down trees that screened the business across the street. He noted they wanted the trash moved over to the other side to prevent odors to the adjacent neighbors. He asked why decks and balconies were necessary on an office building, and expressed concern that the tenants would be able to look into their yards and properties, which would impose upon their right to privacy. He stated applicant had not contacted any of the neighbors for their input. He indicated the neighbors felt they had not been told the whole story by the applicant with respect to the fence location and trees not being able to grow along the north property lines. He expressed concern about pollution on the site and encouraged the Planning Commission to request the applicant enroll in the VPIC program. He expressed concern about snow removal on the site. He stated the neighbors would not be taken advantage of by businesses or anyone else trying to exploit the new neighborhood business district zoning ordinances. He noted they were concerned about their property values and proper screening as adjacent and close proximity neighbors. He stated the neighbors were in support of some type of a development on that property, but they wanted the City to follow the Zoning Ordinances. Commissioner Lemberg asked what was the minimum setback on the south side of the property. Mr. Parrish replied it was 20 feet. . Commissioner Lemberg asked if the trash could be moved to the south side. Mr. Parrish replied that was a possibility.