The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About01-8-14-PC1245 W Highway 96 Clayton Larson -- Andy Holewa Sam Scott Roberta Thompson www.cityofardenhills.org Brent Bartel (Alternate-Vacant) Dave McClung Arden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential neighborhoods, vital business community, well- infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our long-standing tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play. CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA APPOINTMENTS 2.A.Planning Commission Oaths Of Office Ryan Streff, City Planner Documents:PC MEMO.PDF, ATTACHMENT A.PDF 2.B.Planning Commission Chair & Vice Chair Selection Ryan Streff, City Planner Documents:PC MEMO.PDF APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A.December 4, 2013, Draft Planning Commission Minutes Documents:13 PC REGULAR MEETING.PDF PLANNING CASES 4.A.Planning Case 13 Sign Standard Adjustment 1290 County Road F West Public Hearing Required Ryan Streff, City Planner Documents:PC MEMO.PDF, ATTACHMENT A.PDF, ATTACHMENT B.PDF, ATTACHMENT C.PDF, ATTACHMENT D.PDF 4.B.Planning Case 13 PUD Amendment 1201 County Road E Public Hearing Matthew Bachler, Planner I Documents:MEMO.PDF,ATTACHMENT A.PDF, ATTACHMENT B.PDF, ATTACHMENT C.PDF, ATTACHMENT D.PDF, ATTACHMENT E.PDF, ATTACHMENT F.PDF, ATTACHMENT G.PDF COMMENTS AND REPORTS 5.A.TCAAP Update Jill Hutmacher, Community Development Director Documents:PC MEMO.PDF A quorum of the City Council may be present at this meeting. MEMORANDUM 2.A DATE:January 8, 2014 PC Agenda Item TO:Planning Commission Chair Larson and Commissioners FROM:Ryan Streff, City Planner SUBJECT:Planning Commission Oathsof Office Background/Discussion Three regular members and one alternate member of the Planning Commission have terms that expired at the end of 2013. Commissioner Thompson, Commissioner Hames and Commissioner Scott have each indicated their request to serve an additional 3 year term on the Planning Commission. The alternate member position will remain vacant until a new member is selected by the City Council. The City Council will consider these appointments at their January 13, 2014, regular meeting. Requested Action Swearing in of Planning Commissioners Thompson, Hames and Scott for terms expiring in December of 2016. Attachments A.Oaths of Office 11 Page of MEMORANDUM 2.B DATE:January 8, 2014 PC Agenda Item TO:Planning Commission Chair Larson and Commissioners FROM:Ryan Streff, City Planner SUBJECT:Planning Commission Chair & Vice Chair Selection Background/Discussion Mayor Grant would like each City Commission and Committee to selecttheir Chair and Vice Chair for 2014. After the selection is made the Mayor will then appoint the Chair and Vice Chair subject to City Council approval. The Planning Commission will need to discuss the selection and make a motion to recommend these appointments. The City Council will consider these appointments at their January 13, 2014, regular meeting. Requested Action Motion to select the Planning Commission Chair and Vice Chair for 2014. 11 Page of Approved: CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4,2013 6:30 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Chair Clayton Larson called to order the regular Planning Commission meeting at 6:30p.m. ROLL CALL Present were: Chair Clayton Larson, Commissioners Brent Bartel, Janet Stodola (Alternate), Roberta Thompson, Clayton Zimmerman, and Sam Scott (arrived at 6:45 P.M.). Absent: CommissionersAngela Hames and Andrew Holewa. Also present were:City Planner Ryan Streff; Community Development Intern Matthew Bachler; Councilmember Dave McClung;and Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher. APPROVAL OF AGENDA –DECEMBER 4,2013 Chair Larson stated the agenda will stand as published. APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 9,2013–Planning Commission Regular Meeting Commissioner Zimmermanmoved, seconded by Commissioner Thompson, to approve the October 9,2013, Planning Commission Regular MeetingMinutesas presented.The motion carried unanimously (5-0). November 6, 2013 –Planning Commission Regular Meeting Commissioner Bartelmoved, seconded by Commissioner Stodola, to approve the November 6, 2013, Planning Commission Regular MeetingMinutesas presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 20132 PLANNING CASES A.Planning Case 13-020;Variance;3324 Lake Johanna Boulevard –Not a Public Hearing City Planner Streff stated the applicant in this case ownsthe property located at 3324 Lake Johanna Boulevard. The property is zoned R-2 Single & Two Family Residential District and is generally positioned north of Beckman Avenue, south of Stowe Avenue, east of New Brighton Road and west of Lake Johanna. City Planner Streff explained that the applicant is proposing to replace the twenty-two (22) foot by twenty-two (22) foot existing non-conforming accessory structure/detached garage on the property. As proposed, the structure would be rebuilt within its current footprint with a modified roof design and extended roof overhang along the north façade. The overhang is being proposed in order to protect the stairs, which provide access to the dwelling on the property, from undesirable weather conditions such as ice, rain and snow. To provide further protection from unfavorable weather, the applicant is also proposing to add a slated wooden screen that would extend from the overhang. The screen would be suspended from the roofline and anchored to the concrete stairway. The new roofline is also being designed so that the property owner can collect the maximum amount of rainwater for landscaping purposes. City Planner Streff indicated the applicant has submitted a narrative of the proposed addition, a response to the variance evaluation criteria, a survey and a site plan of the property, building elevations and building plans. Site Data Future Land Use Plan:Low Density Residential Existing Land Use:Single Family Detached Home Zoning:R-2: Single & Two Family Residential District Size:.41 acres (17,860 square feet) Topography:The property drops approximately 29 feet from west (Lake Johanna Boulevard) to east (Ordinary High Water mark on Lake Johanna). City Planner Streff reviewed the surrounding area, the Plan Evaluation and the Variance Evaluation Criteria. City Planner Streff explainedthatthe existing detached garage is considered a non-conforming structure because of its location within the 40-footfront yard setback and its height based on the vertical distance from grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface. As indicated on the survey, the structure is approximately fifteen (15) inches from the west property line. The proposed overhang wouldencroach no further into the setback than the existing structure on the property. A variance is being requested to encroach into the front yard setback in order to construct the four (4) foot stairway overhang along the northern side of the structure. City Planner Streff commented that the existing accessory structure is twenty-two (22) feet by twenty-two (22) feet, an area of 484 square feet. The structure has one (1) foot overhangs on all sides making the area of the roof twenty-four (24) feet by twenty-four (24) feet or an area of 576 square feet. The proposed structure would not increase thefootprintof the existing garage; ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 20133 however, the roof would increase in size due to the addition of the overhang over the stairway. The roof as proposed would be approximately twenty-seven (27) feet by twenty-four (24) feet, an increase of 72 square feet. A variance is being requested to change the design of the roof in order to incorporate the overhang and slated wooden screen. City Planner Streff indicated the property is unique when compared to many properties in Arden Hills because of its topography. From Lake Johanna Boulevard to the High Water Mark on Lake Johanna,the property slopes approximately 29 feet from west to east. Because of this lot’s topography and configuration, options for expansion or the movement of the accessory structure to an area that meets the setback regulations is very limited. The proposed overhang is a reasonable solution in order to provide protection of the stairs from undesirable weather conditions such as ice, rain and snow. Due to the scope of the project and the proposed changes to the structure, the character of the neighborhood is not expected to be negativity affected. City Planner Streff provided the Findings of Fact for review: General Findings 1.The property is in the R-2 Single & Two Family Residential Zoning District. 2.The lot is 17,860 square feet in size. 3.The existing garage is a non-conforming structure within the R-2 Zoning District. 4.The existing garage encroaches approximately thirty-eight (38) feet and nine (9) inches into the forty (40) foot front yard setback along Lake Johanna Boulevard. 5.The footprint of the existing structure and the proposed garage is approximately 484 square feet. The overall footprint does not change with the proposed construction. 6.The proposed addition of an overhang along the northern façade of the structure would not encroach any further into the front yard setback along Lake Johanna Boulevard than the existing structure. 7.The Zoning Code permits detached accessory garages on lakeshore lots as long as they meetthe minimum front yard setback. 8.The proposed overhang adds an additional 72 square feet to the area of the roof. 9.The existing and proposed lot coverage meets the requirements of the R-2 Single & Two Family Residential Zoning District. 10.The height of the structure would remain the same as the existing structure. 11.Detached garages or accessory structures are permitted structures within the R-2 Single & Two Family Residential Zoning District. 12.Non-conforming structures may be continued through repair, replacement, restoration, maintenance, or improvement. Variance Findings: 1.The proposal is in harmony with the purpose and intent of the ordinance because the ordinance generally allows flexibility for unique parcels when impacts to surrounding properties are minimized. 2.The proposal is consistent with the comprehensive plan because it allows the reasonable use of residential property. 3.Accessory buildings are generally permitted and a reasonable use within the R-2 Single & TwoFamily Residential Zoning District. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 20134 4.The lot is comparably unique in the City. The property is situated on a lot that slopes significantly from west to east approximately 29 feet, therefore creating a lot where the placement of an attached or detachedgarage within the setback requirements is exceptionally difficult. 5.Since the proposed addition would not encroach any further into the front yard setbacks than the existing structure, the construction of this accessory structure (with overhang addition) is unlikely to have a negative impact on the property or the neighborhood. 6.The addition would be visible from neighboring properties; however, the proposed design and the use of high quality materials for the detached structure should minimize the impacts on surrounding property owners. 7.The proposed plans and requested variances for the accessory structure do not appear to be based on economic considerations alone. City Planner Streff stated the findings of fact for this variance request support a recommendation for approval. However, if the Planning Commission chooses to make a recommendation for denial, the Findings of Fact would need to be amended to reflect the reasons for the denial. If the Planning Commission recommends approval of this variance, Staff recommends the following four (4) conditions: 1.That the project shall be completed in accordance with the plans submitted, as amended by the conditions of approval. Any significant changes to these plans, as determined by the City Planner, shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission and City Council. 2.That the new structure shall not encroach any further into the front yard setback than that of the existing structure. 3.That the new structure shall not exceed the height of the existing structure, which is based on the vertical distance from grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface as defined by the building code. 4.That the color and roof material of the detached garage shall match or complement the existing primary residential structure, and shall conform to all other requirements in the R-2 Zoning District. City Planner Streff reviewed the options available to the Planning Commission on this matter: 1.Recommend Approval with Conditions. 2.Recommend Approval as Submitted. 3.Recommend Denial. 4.Table. Chair Larson opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Bartel asked if the garage door size would be increased. City Planner Streff commented that this was not specified in the request and would not require a variance if the size were altered. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 20135 Commissioner Thompson questioned what the height of the new garage would be. City Planner Streff explained that the new garage would be 12 feet –9 inches in height along Lake Johanna Boulevard, which is the height ofthe existinggarage. Commissioner Thompson questioned if the proposed building materials for the garage would match the house. City Planner Streff reported the homeowners would be updating the home to match the proposed building materials that would be used on the garage. Scott BarsnessOtogawa-Anschel Design and Build ,, explained how the proposed garage would be refinished. He clarified that the lower portion of the garage would remain in place. The structural concerns were with the second level. He noted a steel beam would be added for support. The proposed building materials were then addressed. Chair Larson reported the applicant was obligated to match or complement the garage building materials to the principle structure. He recommended the applicant review this matter further with staff. Commissioner Bartel expressed concern with the proposed expansion of the garage given the fact the property was on a lake lot. Commissioner Zimmerman appreciated the use of impervious pavers and that the rainwater would be collected for landscapingpurposes. Commissioner Stodola stated the aging housing stock in Arden Hills would require updates similar to what was being proposed by the applicant. She encouraged the Commission to be flexible given the fact the City had a large number of non-conforming structure.She supported the proposed design and improvements. Commissioner Scottmoved and Commissioner Zimmermanseconded a motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 13-020for a Varianceat3324 Lake Johanna Boulevardbased on the findings of fact and the submitted plans, as amended by the four (4)conditions in the December 4,2013, report to the Planning Commission. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). Planning Case 13-021;PUD Amendmentand Site Plan Review;Boston Scientific; B. 4100Hamline Avenue N–Public Hearing Chair Larson recused himself from discussion on this planning caseas his firm was the architect for this project. Community Development Intern Bachler stated thatBoston Scientific is requesting a Master Plan PUD (10th) Amendment and Site Plan Review to construct a 1,310 square foot addition to the west side of Building 14, which is located in the northwest quadrant of the Boston Scientific Campus. Building 14 is also identified on the campus Master Plan as Building N. The purpose of ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 20136 the addition is to house mechanical equipment used for manufacturing. The new system is designed to improve system reliability. Community Development Intern Bachler explained that specific pieces of equipment would include three air compressors, two air dryers, two vacuum pumps, one compressed air storage tank, and one vacuum storage tank. Upon completion of the addition, Boston Scientific will discontinue the use of three pieces of equipment (two vacuum pumps and an air compressor) in the existing mechanical room on the north side of Building 14. One piece of equipment (an air compressor) will be relocated and used in the new addition. Community Development Intern Bachler indicated the single story addition would match the existing adjacent roofline at approximately 22 feet above grade. The structure of the building will be concrete masonry with steel joists and a deck roof structure. EIFS with color and reveal pattern to match the existing construction will be used as the principal exterior finish. Other exterior materials will include prefinished metal building vents and wall capping. Community Development Intern Bachler commented that the existing landscaped area where the addition will be constructed is turf grass. All areas disturbed by the construction will be restored to their natural condition. Two spruce trees equivalent to the City’s caliper inch requirements will be planted in the vicinity of the addition near thewestern property line. Site Data Future Land Use Plan:Light Industrial and Office Existing Land Use:Light Industrial and Office Zoning:I-1: Limited Industrial / PUD Overlay Size:92.8 acres Proposed Density:N/A Topography:Level Community Development Intern Bachler reviewed the surrounding area, past Planning Cases for Boston Scientific and the Plan Review. Community Development Intern Bachler explained the Planning Commission must make a finding as to whether or not the proposed PUD Amendment and Site Plan Review at 4100 Hamline Avenue North would adversely affect the surrounding neighborhood or the community as a whole based on the aforementioned factors. Staff offers the following eight (8) findings of fact for consideration: 1.AMaster PUD was approved for 4100 Hamline Avenue North in Planning Case #02-025. 2.The proposed 1,310 square foot addition to Building 14 was not included in the approved Master PUD and an amendment to the PUD is therefore required. 3.The Master PUD requires that a Site Plan Review be applied for prior to the construction of any building or addition. 4.The property is located in the I-1: Limited Industrial District. 5.The proposal is in substantial conformance with the zoning and design standard requirements for the I-1: Limited Industrial District. 6.The applicant has provided a Parking Calculation Plan that shows adequate “Proof of Parking” spaces in the event that additional parking is needed. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 20137 7.The proposal is not expected to exceed noise limits set by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. 8.The proposal will not adversely impact the surrounding neighborhood or the City as a whole. Community Development Intern Bachler stated based on the submitted plans and findings of fact, staff recommends approval of Planning Case 13-021 for a Planned Unit Development Amendment and Site Plan Review at 4100 HamlineAvenue North. Staff recommends the following five (5) conditions to be included with the approval: 1.The project shall be completed in accordance with the plans submitted as amended by the conditions of approval. Any significant changes to these plans, as determined by the City Planner, shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission and City Council. 2.A PUD Amendment drafted by the City Attorney shall be executed prior to the issuance of a building permit. 3.The applicant shall acquire a Grading and Erosion Control Permit prior to commencing land disturbing activities on the site. 4.The Master PUD Amendment andSite Plan Review shall automatically expire and become void one (1) year after the date on which the Council granted such approval if work on the project has not begun. 5.If noise from Building 14 exceeds MPCA noise regulations for residential areas atthe property line, the applicant shall reduce noise levels in order to be in compliance with MPCA regulations. If the City receives complaints regarding noise levels, the applicant shall be responsible for providing decibel measurements from the property line and reducing noise levels to be in compliance with MPCA regulations. Community Development Intern Bachler reviewed the options available to the Planning Commission on this matter: 1.Recommend Approval with Conditions. 2.Recommend Approval as Submitted. 3.Recommend Denial. 4.Table. Acting Chair Thompson opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Zimmerman questioned whythe additionaltwoparking spaces were needed. Community Development Intern Bachler explained that based on the proposed useof the addition as “Other Business and Industry,” one parking space for each 1,000 square feet of floor area is required. Acting Chair Thompson opened the public hearing at 7:01p.m. Acting Chair Thompson invited anyone for or against the applicationto come forward and make comment. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 20138 Todd Vanderburgh , 1266 Wayne Ridge Drive, explained that his home abuts the Boston Scientific campus.He expressed concern with the noise levels created at Boston Scientific. He commented that the proposed addition would bring the facility closer to his home. He requested that the noise levels at this site be reviewed. Acting Chair Thompson explained that one of the conditions for approval did address the noise levels on the Boston Scientific campus. There being no additional comment Acting Chair Thompson closed the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. Commissioner Zimmerman understood the noise concerns at this property. It was his understanding that the proposed reconfiguration could minimize the amount of noise coming from the facility. This would greatly benefit the surrounding neighborhood. Judd BraschRSPArchitects ,, explained he has been working with Boston Scientific for a number of years. He discussed the new equipment that would be added, noting it should be quieterthan existing equipment in the building. He explained that Boston Scientific would do its best to contain and control noise withinthe new addition. He reported measurements were taken earlier thatweek and the goal would be to reduce or meet thecurrent levels. Commissioner Bartel questioned how the noise levels were tested. Mr. Brasch discussed how the noise levels were captured stating Boston Scientific was currently within the MPCA limits. Commissioner Zimmerman asked if sound-deadeningpanels would be used. Mr. Brasch indicated a plenum would be used instead to reduce the sound levels. He noted the ducts could be lined to muffle the sound as well. It was his opinion that the noise generated from the site was coming from the roof-mountedunits and the equipment located within the proposed additionwould not contribute to the noise concerns. Commissioner Stodola inquired if the two new trees could be relocated to providemore screening for the adjacent residents. Mr. Brasch stated there was a bare spot on the landscaping plan, which led to the proposed location. He did not object to moving the trees. Acting Chair Thompson recommended that Mr. Braschwork with the neighbors to find the best location for the two new trees. Commissioner Bartelmoved and Commissioner Zimmermanseconded a motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 13-021for a Planned Unit Development Amendment and Site Plan Reviewat 4100Hamline Avenue Northbased on the findings of fact and the submitted plans, as amended by the five (5)conditions in the December 4, 2013, report to the Planning Commission. The motion carried unanimously (5-0)(Chair Larson abstained). ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 20139 UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS None. REPORTS A.Report from the City Council Councilmember McClung reportedthat at the November 12,City Council WorkSession meeting, Charles Carlson (Senior Manager, BRT Small Starts –Metro Transit) presented information on the Snelling Avenue Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, which has been approved by Metro Transit. Ramsey County and the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce have been meeting with Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council to discuss the possible extension of the Snelling Avenue BRT line from its proposed terminus at the Rosedale Mall to serve the TCAAP site. The extension would run north on Snelling and Hamline Avenues, and could serve University of Northwestern, Bethel University, the County Road E business district, Land O’Lakes and Boston Scientific. Councilmember McClung reportedthat at the November 18, City Council Work Session, staff presented two concept reviews for projects that have been proposed on County Road E in the B-2 District. The first is a proposed PUD Amendment at 1201 County Road E for a retail building at the corner of County Road E and Lexington Avenue. The property owner has been working closely with Goodwill on the building design and site layout. Staff is expecting to receive an application for the proposal by the deadline date for the January 2014, Planning Commission meeting. Councilmember McClung explained that the second project wasa proposed reuse of the Carroll’s Furniture property at 1203 County Road E by Creative Catering for a banquet, catering, and retail center. The applicant plans to make improvements to the building’s exterior and update the existing signage on the property. A concern raised by the Council was the limited number of parking spaces that would be provided for the anticipated uses of the building. Creative Catering has proposed mitigating the parking deficiency by securing shared parking agreements with adjacent properties and others located in the area. Staff has determined that a Site Plan Review application will be required for theproposed reuse of the property. At this time, Creative Catering has not indicated whether they will be submitting an application. Councilmember McClung reportedthatat the November 25, City Council meeting, the Council approved (5-0) three Ordinances to amend the Zoning Code: Ordinance 2013-010 establishes a new Conservation District, Ordinance 2013-011 establishes a new Parks and Open Space District, and Ordinance 2013-012 amends the existing design standards for the B-2 and B-3 Districts. The Planning Commission reviewed the ordinances at the October 9 and November 6, 2013, meetings and unanimously recommended approval of each. Councilmember McClung stated that the Council reviewed two Site Plan Review applications for the Gradient Financial building at 4105 Lexington Avenue North. The request for a sign standard adjustment allowing for a 126 square foot sign on the northeast wall of the building was approved (5-0). The Council voted to table (5-0) the proposal for an accessory structure that would be located in the northwest corner of the lot. Staff was instructed to work with the ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 201310 applicant to find an appropriate exterior building material that is compatible with the principle building before bringing this item back to Council. The Planning Commission reviewed these cases at their November 6, 2013, meeting and unanimously recommended approval of each. Councilmember McClung reported thatthe Council voted to approve (4-1, McClung) Planning Case 13-013 for a conditional use permit to allow Bethel University to use the existing office building at 2 Pine Tree Drive for a higher education use. The Council approved three amendments to the proposal to require Bethel to annually submit a parking plan for City approval; to push back the start of Phase II of the project from 2014 to 2015; and to limit the total classroom spacein the building to 19,000 square feet. The Planning Commission reviewed this case at their October 9, 2013, meeting and unanimously recommended approval. Councilmember McClung thanked the Planning Commission for allowing him to serve as the Council Liaison for the past year. He reported that Councilmember Fran Holmes would be acting as the Council Liaison in 2014. B.TCAAP Update Community Development Director Hutmacher reportedthatin collaboration with the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, the City held anon-site master planning workshop at Land O’Lakes on Thursday, November 7. This was a pilot project designed to determine whether the City could reach a younger and more diverse demographic with targeted, on-site events. The twelve participants generally ranged in age from the 20’s to the early 30’s. Comments received included the following: •Participants wanted to be able to walk to bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues from their homes, but acknowledged that cars will still be their primary mode of transportation. •Participants suggested that a transit center or park and ride should be included to provide transportation options. •Participants felt that professionals moving to the area and starting careers would be most interested in townhomes and condominiums, but young families would prefer single-family homes. •Participants mostly (but not unanimously) favored public open space over large private yards. Back yards should be just big enough to “throw a ball”. •Participants wanted tominimize their time spent on household chores and maintenance –most preferred a home no larger than necessary and a homeowner’s association to take care of mowing and shoveling. When asked how to reach a younger demographic, attendees responded that events such as the one at Land O’Lakes are an innovative and effective way to reach their age group. Participation makes them want to seek additional opportunities to be involved. Attendees also suggested using social media tools such as Facebook, Instagram,and Linked-In. Community Development Director Hutmacher explained that given the success of the event and the positive feedback received, the City is working with SPACC to schedule additional on- site master planning workshops at major employers in January and February. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 201311 Community Development Director Hutmacher stated the Snelling Avenue Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route will connect the 46th Street (Blue Line) and the Snelling Avenue (Green Line) light rail stations with Rosedale Mall. Arterial BRT operates in regular traffic without dedicated lanes. Stops are more widely spaced than regular bus routes and bus stops have more amenities such as substantial shelters, ticket vending machines, radiant heat, and real-time bus information. Of the project’s $25 million cost, Metro Transit has secured $15 million in funding. Pending final funding, Metro Transit plans to construct improvements in 2014 and begin operation of the Snelling Avenue Arterial BRT line in 2015. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated the Metropolitan Council has announced that it will evaluate a future extension of the Snelling Avenue BRT line from Rosedale Mall to TCAAP via Snelling and Hamline Avenues. The extension would run north on Snelling and Hamline Avenues and couldserve University of Northwestern, Bethel University, the County Road E business district, Land O’Lakes and Boston Scientific. Metro Transit will conduct a study to determine the feasibility of BRT extension to TCAAP. Community Development Director Hutmacher reported an open house to gather public feedback on the design options for the Highway 96/I-35W and County Road H/I-35W interchanges was held at the Ramsey County Public Works facility on November 19, 2013. Attendees were encouraged to view the concepts for both interchanges and ask questions of the staff present. The event was well attended with 66 members of the general public signing-in at the welcome table and more who declined to sign-in. Staff were present from Arden Hills, Ramsey County, MnDOT, and Kimley-Horn and Associates. Community Development Director Hutmacher commented a handout was given to attendees that included a general project summary and project timeline. Sixteenboards were displayed showing area constraints, concepts for both interchanges, and a basic overview of TCAAP. Eleven comments were submitted in writing at the open house. The nature of the comments consisted mostly of concerns with bicycle and pedestrian access, access to TCAAP, pros and cons of roundabouts, and the construction impacts of the interchanges. Verbal feedback was generally positive about the momentum to improve the interchanges and raised concerns similar to those submitted in writing. The concept designs are posted on the TCAAP Master Plan page of the City’s website. Community Development Director Hutmacher explainedthatthe City Council will review the first Master Plan draft onDecember 16, 2013. The next TCAAP open house is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 22, 2014. Master Plan consultants will also ask for feedback from the JDA and the Planning Commission on January 6 and 8, 2014, respectively. The final Master Plan and the draft AUAR are both expected to be completed in spring 2014. C.Planning Commission Comments and Requests Chair Larson wished Commissioner Stodola all the best and thanked her for her years of service to the City of Arden Hills. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –December 4, 201312 Commissioner Stodola encouraged other residents of the City to volunteer their time and serve on the Planning Commission. ADJOURN Commissioner Stodolamoved, seconded by Commissioner Thompson, to adjourn the December 4,2013, Planning Commission Meeting at 7:35p.m. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). MEMORANDUM 4.A DATE: January 8, 2014 PC Agenda Item TO: Planning Commission FROM: Ryan Streff, City Planner SUBJECT:Planning Case #13-023No public hearing required – Applicant: ArdenVillage, LLC Property Location: 1290 County Road F West Request: Site Plan Review –Sign Standard Adjustment Requested Action The applicant has requested a Site Plan Review for a Sign Standard Adjustment that would allow for a deviation from the SignCode at 1290 County Road FWestto increase the amount of temporary wall signage and the amount of time it is permitted to be displayed. Background 1.Overview of Request: The property at 1290 County Road F West is owned by Arden Village, LLC. The property is zonedR-4Multiple Dwelling Districtand is located north of I-694/Highway 10, south of County Road F West, east of Hamline Avenue and west of Lexington Avenue. The applicant is proposing to install two (2) temporary wall signs, one facing I-694 andthe other facing County Road F West. On March 3, 2010, the City Council approved an application for a four-story, 55-unit, workforce housing development at 1290 CountyRoad F West. The City Council approved Planning Case #09-021foraConditional Use Permit Amendment, Rezoning, Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Preliminary and Final Plat, and Master and Final Planned Unit Development. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-023 -Arden Village -Sign Standard Adjustment\Memos_Reports_13-023 16 Page of Arden Village has expressed concerns about the visibility of their building for leasing purposes. The applicant has stated that the amount of temporary wall signage allowed by the Code for Sign District 3 is not proportionately adequate for a structure of its size or location. By increasing the amount of temporary wall signage the applicant is hoping to improve their ability to fullylease the building by enhancingtheir visibilityto the traveling public. In order toaddress this concern,Arden Villageis proposing to increase the amount of temporary wall signage.Two(2)temporary wall signs are being proposed for the building. The applicant is proposing a sign that measures six (6) feet by forty (40)feet, an area of 240 square feet, on the south elevation adjacent to I-694and Highway 10. Thesecond sign is being proposed on the north elevation along County RoadF West,at a size of six (6) feet by thirty-three (33) feet, an area of198square feet.The combined area of the two (2) signs would be 438square feet. A professional sign company would design and install the signs on the property. Arden Village would be responsible for the maintenance of these signs to ensure a like new condition at all times. If a signis torn or deteriorates it will berepaired and/or replaced. Section 1250.02 of the Sign Ordinance regulates the use of temporary on-premise signs. The property is zonedR-4 Multiple Dwelling District, therefore,standards for Sign District 3apply in this case. The Ordinance permits the property to have no more than one(1)temporary sign not to exceed 10square feet in area. However, because the building currently has space for lease the propertyis allowed one(1)additional temporary sign nottoexceed25 square feet in area. The applicant hasindicated that they would like to display the temporary wall signagefrom the date the sign permit is issued to July 1, 2014.Under the Sign Ordinance, the property is allowed to display a permitted temporary sign for no more than thirty (30)days per calendar year. A sign advertising available space for lease in a building can be displayed until seven(7)days after the building is leased. The applicant has provideda narrative explaining their request (Attachment A) and elevations of the building depicting the proposed signage (Attachment B). 2.Surrounding Area: DirectionFuture Land Use PlanZoningExisting Land Use I/O -Light Industrial and I-1–Limited Industrial NorthOfficeDistrictMUI –Mixed Use Industrial I/O -Light Industrial and I-1–Limited Industrial OFC-Office SouthOffice(I-694 ROW)District(I-694 ROW)Utility/Tower (I-694 ROW) I/O -Light Industrial and I-1–Limited Industrial East OfficeDistrictOFC -Office City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-023 -Arden Village -Sign Standard Adjustment\Memos_Reports_13-023 26 Page of I/O -Light Industrial and I-1–Limited Industrial WestOfficeDistrictOFC -Office 3.Site Data: Future Land Use Plan: High Density Residential Existing Land Use:Multiple Family Zoning:R-4 Multiple Dwelling District Size: 2.26 Acres Topography: Fairly Flat Plan Evaluation 1.Site Plan Review –Section 1260: Sign Standard Adjustment Section 1260.01 of the Sign Code permits adjustments to sign height, number, type, lighting, area, and/or location through the site plan review process if criteria number 1 or2 is met and the required criteria number 3 is met.In this case, criteria 1 and3 are most applicable. The criteria are as follows: 1.There are site conditions which require a sign adjustment to allow the sign to be reasonably visible from a street immediately adjacent to the site; or, 2.The sign adjustment will allow a sign of exceptional design or a style that will enhance the area or that is more consistent with the architecture and design of the site; and 3.The sign adjustment will not result in a sign that is inconsistent with the purpose of the zoning district in which the property is located or the current land use. Site conditions ofthe property justify a Sign Standard Adjustment to allow the proposedsignsto be reasonably visible from the roadways adjacent to the site. The propertyis 400+ feetfrom I- 694/Highway10 and approximately 500 feetfrom Highway 51/Hamline Avenue. The building itself is setback approximately 40 feet from the northern property line along County Road F West. Given the distance the buildingis from its respective right-of-ways,the proposed sign adjustment is practicableso that the building and its use is visible from the adjacent roadways. Allowingflexibility fortemporary signage at this property will not result in any inconsistencies with the purpose or intent of the zoning or sign district. Sign Standard Adjustments are allowed City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-023 -Arden Village -Sign Standard Adjustment\Memos_Reports_13-023 36 Page of bya Site Plan Review and Council approval for properties located within the R-4 Multiple Dwelling District. Resident Comments Staff has not received any letters, e-mails, or telephone calls from property owners or residentsin regards to this planning case. Notice Although a Site Plan Review does not require a public hearing, a public meeting notice was prepared by the City and mailed to properties within three-hundred fifty (350) feet of the subject property. Findings of Fact The Planning Commission must make a finding as to whether or not the proposed Sign Standard Adjustment at 1290 County Road F West meets the criteria in the Sign Code to deviate from the sign regulations and if the proposed increase in temporary wall signagewould adversely affect the surrounding neighborhood and the community as a whole. Staff offers the following findings for consideration: 1.The property is located in theR-4 Multiple Dwelling District. 2.The property is located in Sign District 3. 3.In Sign District 3,wall signage up to twenty (20) square feet and freestandingsignage up to thirty-two (32) square feet is permitted. 4.For single occupant parcels, no more than one(1)permitted temporary sign shall be permitted at any given time. The area of the temporary signage shall not exceed one half of the permitted wall sign area.Displayed for a maximum of thirty (30) days. 5.Buildings with lease or vacant space may obtain one(1)temporary wall sign not to exceed twenty-five (25) square feet in size.Displayed for a maximum of seven (7) days after the building is leased. 6.The applicantis proposing two (2) temporary wall signsto be located on the building. 7.The proposed temporary wall signfacing I-694 wouldmeasure six (6) feet by forty (40) feet,an area of 240 square feet. 8.The proposed temporary wall signfacing County Road F would measure six (6)feet by thirty (33)feet, an area of 198square feet. 9.Section 1260 of the Sign Code permits deviation from the Sign Code through the Site Plan Review process. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-023 -Arden Village -Sign Standard Adjustment\Memos_Reports_13-023 46 Page of 10.The proposed signs would be displayed from the date the sign permit is issued to July 1, 2014. 11.Sign Code regulations on the permit length of temporary signage would limit the owner’s ability to effectively advertise the availability of apartment units in the building. 12.The signs would not be in direct view from residential properties. 13.The sign adjustment will not result in a sign that is inconsistent with the purposeof the R- 4 Multiple Dwelling District. 14.Increasing the amount of temporary wall signage would not have a negative impact on adjacent properties or the City as a whole. Staff Recommendation Based on the submitted plans and findings of fact, staff recommends approval of Planning Case 13-023for a Sign Standard Adjustment under the Site Plan Review process.Staff recommends the following six (6)conditions be included with the approval: 1.That the project shall be completed in accordance with the plans submitted as amended by the conditions of approval. Any significant changes to these plans, as determined by the City Planner, shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission and City Council. 2.That the two temporary wall signs shall be removed by July 1, 2014. 3.Thatthe temporary wall signon the south elevation shall be no larger than 240 square feet. 4.That the temporary wall signon the north elevation shall be no larger than 198square feet. 5.That the applicant shall maintain the two signs in like new condition and repair and/or replace a banner if it is torn ordeteriorates during the approved timeline. 6.That the applicant shall apply for a sign permit prior to the installation of the sign. Options and Proposed Motion Language 1.Recommend Approval with Conditions:Motion to recommend approvalof Planning Case #13-023for a Site Plan Review and Sign Standard Adjustment at 1290 County Road F West based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans as amended by the six (6) conditions in the January 8, 2014, report to the Planning Commission. 2.Recommend Approval as Submitted: Motion to recommend approvalof Planning Case #13- 023for a Site Plan Review and Sign Standard Adjustment at 1290 County Road F West based on the findings of fact and the submitted plansin the January 8, 2014,report to the Planning Commission. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-023 -Arden Village -Sign Standard Adjustment\Memos_Reports_13-023 56 Page of 3.Recommend Denial:Motion to recommend denialof Planning Case #13-023for a Site Plan Review and Sign Standard Adjustment at 1290 County Road F Westbased on the findings of fact:findings to deny should specifically reference the reasons for denial and why those reasons cannot be mitigated. 4.Table:Motion to tablePlanning Case #13-023for a Site Plan Review and Sign Standard Adjustment at 1290 County Road F Westin order to gather the following information: a specific reason and/or informationrequest should be included with a motion to table. Deadline for Agency Actions The City of Arden Hills received the completed application for this request on December 2, 2013. Pursuant to Minnesota State Statute, the City must act on this request by January 31, 2013, (60 days), unless the City provides the petitioner with written reasons for an additional 60-day review period. The City may, with the consent of the applicant, extend the review period beyond the initial 120 days. Attachments A.LandUse Application&Narrative B.Signage Plan/Elevations C.Aerial Photo D.Photos of Property City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-023 -Arden Village -Sign Standard Adjustment\Memos_Reports_13-023 66 Page of Attachment A Attachment C County Road F West The zoning district designations represented on this map correspond to the City of Arden Hills official Zoning Map. ¯ Questions concerning the Zoning Map should be directed to City Hall. Zoning designations are subject to change. Property Boundary Please refer to the Zoning Code for complete information. Map Date: January 3, 2014 P:\GIS_Data\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-023 MEMORANDUM 4.B DATE: January 8, 2014 PC Agenda Item TO: Planning Commission FROM: Matthew Bachler, Planner I SUBJECT: Planning Case #13-017 - This application requires a Public Hearing Applicant: TAT Properties, LLC Property Location: 1201 County Road E Request: Planned Unit Development Amendment Requested Action nd TAT Properties, LLC has requested a Planned Unit Development Amendment (2) to construct a 17,743 square foot retail building on the southeast corner of the property located at 1201 County Road E. Background In December 2012, the City Council approved Planning Case 12-019 for a Master and Final Planned Unit Development (PUD) at 1201 County Road E. This planning case allowed the reuse of the existing building on the property for 74 residential apartment units and approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space. A Certificate of Occupancy for the building was issued in October 2013. The City Council later approved a Certificate of Completion for the E Street Flats project in November 2013, which acknowledged that the developer had completed certain site improvements as required by the Development Agreement. The approved Master PUD consists only of the redevelopment of the existing building on the property and the completion of site improvements. A previous land use application (PC #11-011) submitted by the applicant and approved by the City Council in 2011 included a preliminary plat proposal that would have subdivided the property into two parcels. Approval for this land use application expired prior to the City taking action on Planning Case 12-019. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 1 of 16 The Development Agreement states that the property owner intends to develop the eastern two acres of the site into retail or other commercial uses and that any future development will require a separate application to the City. Also included in the Agreement is the provision that any significant changes to the approved plans require a review by the Planning Commission and approval by the City Council. Staff has determined that the proposed project qualifies as being significant and that an amendment to the existing Master PUD is required. Since 1201 County Road E would continue to be a single parcel of property, the proposal has been evaluated based on whether the entire site will meet the zoning requirements once the new development is completed. It should be noted that the site plan was designed so that the two-acre development site would be in conformance with zoning regulations independent of the entire parcel in terms of building and landscape lot coverage. 1.Overview of Request The applicant has proposed constructing a 17,743 square foot retail building that would be located on the undeveloped two acre eastern portion of 1201 County Road E. The proposal does not include a request to subdivide the property. TAT Properties, LLC has been working with Goodwill Industries and plans to sign a long-term lease with the company for use of the building. If the proposal is approved, the applicant expects to start work on the site in April or May 2014, with an anticipated construction completion schedule of six months. The building would be located at the southeast corner of the site and situated at the required front setback line along County Road E and Lexington Avenue. Slightly more than half of the building area would be used for retail sales, with the remaining space divided between employee offices, a donation processing area, and a drive-thru donation center. Parking and loading areas would be located at the rear and western sides of the building. The development would be accessed using the easterly driveway on the property, which currently services E Street Flats. Architectural features would extend along all four sides of the building. Design elements include parapets, corner columns, façade articulation, awnings, windows, and variation in building materials. Landscaped areas on the site will help shade the parking lot and provide screening of the backside of the building. The applicant has submitted a detailed project narrative and a complete plan set (Attachments A and C) 2.Planned Unit Development (PUD) Process: The Planned Unit Development process is a tool that provides additional flexibility for development that an underlying zoning district would not otherwise allow. For example, a PUD may make exceptions to setbacks, lot coverage, parking requirements, signage, building materials, or landscaping requirements. It is intended to overcome the limitations of zoning regulations and improve the overall design of a project. While the PUD process allows the City City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 2 of 16 to negotiate certain aspects of the development, any conditions imposed on the PUD must have a rational basis related to the expected impact of the development. A PUD cannot be used to permit uses that would not otherwise be permitted in the underlying zoning district. 3.Surrounding Area Direction Future Land Use Plan Zoning Existing Land Use Light Industrial and Office, Light Industrial, North B-3 Service Business Commercial Community Commercial Community Commercial, South Community Mixed Use B-2 General Business Office East Commercial C-1 Retail ServiceCommunity Commercial (Shoreview) Light Industrial, West Community Mixed Use B-2 General Business Community Commercial 4.Site Data Future Land Use Plan: Community Mixed Use Existing Land Use: Multi-Family Residential, Community Commercial Zoning: B-2 General Business District Size: 8.04 acres (350,078 SF) Topography: The parcel is generally flat Plan Review 1.Chapter 13 Zoning Regulations Section 1320 District Provisions A. Land Use Meets Requirements The proposed principal use of the building would be classified as retail sales and services under Section 1305.04 Definitions of the Zoning Code. This land use is permitted in the B-2 General Business District. The donation processing component of the proposal qualifies as warehousing, which is a permitted accessory use in the B-2 District. B. Lot Size, Building Coverage, and Landscaping Meets Requirements The property is a conforming lot with a total area of approximately 350,000 square feet. No more City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 3 of 16 than 45 percent of a property may be covered by a building. Currently, the building area covers 56,369 square feet of the lot (16.1 percent). The proposed development would increase this number to 74,112 square feet (21.2 percent). A minimum of 20 percent of the lot area must include landscaping. With the proposed development, the existing landscape coverage would be reduced from 160,957 square feet to 104,588 square feet. The new landscaped area would be equal to 29.9 percent of the lot. The building and landscape coverage requirements are also met when the proposed development site is evaluated independent of the larger property. The portion of the property that would be developed for the retail store is approximately 77,000 square feet. Of this area, the building footprint would occupy 23 percent of the site and landscaping would cover 26.2 percent. Building Building Landscape Landscape Lot Size (SF) Coverage (SF) Coverage Coverage (SF) Coverage 13,000 or Required more 45% or less 20% or more Existing (entire parcel) 350,078 56,369 16.1% 160,957 46.0% Proposed (entire parcel) 350,078 74,112 21.2% 104,588 29.9% Development Site (77,122 square feet) 17,743 23.0% 20,203 26.2% C. Height Meets Requirements The maximum height for buildings in the B-2 District is 50 feet. The proposed retail building would be 25 feet at its highest point. D. Setbacks Meets Requirements The minimum setback for principal buildings in the B-2 District is 20 feet in the front and rear yard, and 10 feet in the side yard. Since the property is a corner parcel with frontage on two public streets, the proposed building would need to meet the 20 foot front yard setback requirement along County Road E and Lexington Avenue. The table below lists the setbacks for the proposed building. County Road E Lexington Avenue Northern Western (Southern Boundary) (Eastern Boundary) Boundary Boundary Required 20 feet (Front) 20 feet (Front) 20 Feet (Rear) 10 Feet (Side) Proposed City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 4 of 16 Section 1325 General Regulations A. Landscaping Section 1325.05 Subd. 1 Minimum Caliper Inches Meets Requirements The Zoning Code requires that a minimum amount of caliper inches be provided based on the gross square footage of all buildings on a site. With the addition of the proposed building, the total gross square footage on the property would equal 142,863. The caliper inches required is calculated by dividing the gross building square footage by 320. In this case, 446.4 caliper inches of trees are required for the entire property. The Zoning Code allows existing trees on the site at the time of development to be used as a credit against the minimum caliper inch requirement. There are 1,227.5 caliper inches of trees on the site currently, which satisfies the minimum caliper inch requirement. The proposal, however, includes the removal of 222 caliper inches of this total amount. An additional 53 caliper inches of trees are required to be planted on the development site in order to satisfy the Preservation Ordinance mitigation requirements. Perennials and Shrubberies Exceeds Requirements The Zoning Code requires that at least ten percent of the total landscaped area be covered with perennials and/or shrubbery. A total of 10,459 square feet of plantings for the entire parcel is required based on this provision. The applicant has proposed 17,142 square feet of perennial plantings, or 16.4 percent of the total landscape coverage area. Of the landscape area proposed for the retail building site, 2,642 square feet, or 13.1 percent, would be planted with perennials. Perennial Plantings Perennial (Percentage) Plantings (SF) 10% of total Required landscaped area 10,459 Proposed (entire parcel) 16.4% 17,142 Development Site (77,122 square feet) 13.1% 2,642 The landscape plan includes perennial flowers and several shrubs planted in the City gateway sign easement at the southeast corner of the site. The applicant has proposed coordinating any plantings in this easement Planting Islands Meets Requirements At least ten percent of a parking area must be occupied by planting islands that are at least 150 square feet in size and have at least one tree. The proposed planting islands meet the size requirements and all islands include a tree planting. The parking lot area of the proposed retail City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 5 of 16 store measures 34,138 square feet in area. Of this total area, 3,541 square feet (10.4 percent) is occupied by planting islands. Tree Selection Meets Requirements The proposed Red Maple, Honey Locust, and Snow Crab trees are appropriate for urbanized locations and should grow well in their proposed locations. B. Lighting Section 1325.05 Subd. 3 Meets Requirements Light poles located around the parking area perimeter and exterior building lights will be used to illuminate the site. All proposed lighting fixtures will be adequately hooded to direct light to the intended area. The City Code requires that cast light not exceed a meter reading of one foot candle on travel lanes of adjoining public streets. The submitted photometric plan shows readings on Lexington Avenue that meet the Code requirements. However, the plan does not fully show meter readings on County Road E. At the street curb line, several meter readings are in the 1.1 to 1.4 candle range. Given these low readings, it is likely that the meter readings on the County Road E travel lanes would not be in excess of the lighting requirements. Staff is recommending a condition be added requiring that a final lighting plan be approved by the City and the Ramsey County Sherriff prior to the issuance of a building permit. C. Screening Section 1325.05 Subd. 4 Meets Requirements Screening is required for all parking and loading service areas. Existing and new tree plantings along County Road E should provide adequate screening of the parking area from the public street. A proposed four-foot high wrought iron fence along the southern end of the parking lot would provide additional screening. Staff has expressed concern to the applicant about the visibility of the trailer that will be parked in the loading dock area. Goodwill would use the trailer to collect donations over the course of several days, at which point a new trailer would be dropped off. In effect, a trailer would be parked in the loading area at all times and the use of the space would function as exterior storage. The loading dock area is located behind the building and would mostly be concealed from public view by an eight-foot tall metal screen and gate. The applicant expects only the very top portion of the trailer to be visible above the screening. The loading ramp would slope at a grade of five percent and the distance between the lowest point of the ramp and the loading dock would be approximately four feet. Coupled with the eight foot screening fence, the distance from the bottom of the loading ramp to the top of the fence would be approximately 12 feet. The height of a trailer typically ranges from 13 to 14 feet. From the bottom to the top of the ramp, one to four feet of the upper portion of the trailer would likely extend above the screening. On average, the trailer would be 40 feet in length and the loading area is approximately 55 feet long, leaving a minimum setback of 10 feet from the loading area gate to the parked trailer. The applicant has provided a site plan and perspective drawings depicting a parked truck trailer behind the gate and screening (Attachment D). City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 6 of 16 The building will be serviced by roof-mounted mechanical operating equipment. The applicant has acknowledged that this equipment will either be screened or located so as not to be visible from adjacent properties and public streets. The use of wood screening for mechanical equipment is not permitted in the B-2 District. Section 1325.05 Subd. 8 B-2 District Design Standards On November 25, 2013, the City Council approved Ordinance 2013-012, which amended Section 1325.05, Subd. 8 of the Zoning Code regarding Additional Design Standards for New Development, Redevelopment, and Modifications to Existing Sites in the B-2 and B-3 Districts. This land use application is the first proposal to be evaluated by the City using the revised design standards for the B-2 District. Building Materials Meets Requirements The applicant has proposed using utility face brick and transparent glass as the principal building materials. At least 75 percent of the exterior building materials are required to be comprised of brick masonry, tile masonry, natural or synthetic stone, decorative concrete plank siding, or transparent glass. Of the total area of all four façades, 74.3 percent would be made of brick or windows. EIFS would be used as a trim material and would comprise the remaining 25.7 percent of the total façade area. The design standards require that EIFS be located at a minimum 12 feet above the ground line. The submitted building elevation plans show all EIFS material at approximately 13 feet above grade. Building Design Exceeds Requirements The building design section includes several provisions, all of which the proposal meets or exceeds. At least 50 percent of the largest building on each site is required to be constructed at the front setback line. In this case, the entire building is effectively located at the front setback line along Lexington Avenue and County Road E. The project narrative submitted by the applicant notes that the building has been oriented close to the public streets in order to encourage pedestrian interaction and to better conceal the parking lot area from the intersection. The proposed building design includes façade treatment on all four sides of the building. The façades facing west, south, and east are all designed to have the appearance of the primary store entrance. Visual intereswith the use of windows, façade modulation, and landscaping. Metal panel canopies have been provided above the primary entrance, the emergency exit on County Road E, and the central bay of windows on the Lexington Avenue façade. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 7 of 16 Building Color Meets Requirements The proposed building colors are beige, grey, and a muted red. The sliding doors used on the loading dock area and donation center would be painted to match the color of the brick. Window and Door Openings Flexibility Requested For commercial buildings, at least 50 percent of the first level façade that fronts a public street must be comprised of transparent windows or doors. In this case, the County Road E and Lexington Avenue façades are required to meet this standard. At least 20 percent of all other façades that are reasonably visible from the public right-of-way must include window or door openings. On these façades, simulated windows may be used on service areas. This standard would apply to the western and northern building façades. The following table outlines the proposed window and door transparency for the four sides of the building. Transparency Window Total Window Requirements Coverage Transparency Lexington Avenue Façade 50% 45.0% 45.0% County Road E Façade 50% 46.7% 26.4% West Façade (Store Entrance) 20%* 48.0% 48.0% North Façade 20%* 9.6% 9.6% Simulated or opaque windows may be used on service areas * On three sides of the building, 100 percent of the windows used would be transparent. For the County Road E façade, simulated windows are proposed for the lower two-thirds of the windows to accommodate display areas within the store. The applicant has requested flexibility in the transparent window area requirement for the southern façade in light of the additional window transparency provided on the western façade. The design standards allow the City to grant a proportional reduction in the transparent window requirement on a public street façade if additional transparent glass is used on other sides of the building. Site Furnishing and Seating Areas Flexibility Requested Benches and decorative plantings are required near the primary entrance of all buildings. Two planting beds are proposed on either side of the primary building entrance on the western side of the building. No seating areas have been included on the proposed site plan. Screening Meets Requirements The City Code requires that trash equipment and containers be fully enclosed and integrated into the architecture of the building. A trash compactor would be located within the screened loading dock area and would not be visible to the public. Truck docks are required to face away from public streets. The proposed loading dock area is tucked behind the northwestern side of the building and would not be highly visible from County Road E or Lexington Avenue. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 8 of 16 Landscaping Flexibility Requested One tree planting is required along the right-of-way for every 40 feet of street frontage. Between County Road E and Lexington Avenue, the site has approximately 500 feet of street frontage. A total of 12 trees are required in this case and 7 are provided. The Zoning Code restricts the placement of trees within drainage and utility easements and road right-of-ways. Due to the building being oriented close to the two public streets and the location of easements and right-of- ways along the southern and eastern sides of the property, there are site constraints that prevent the applicant from meeting this requirement. Parking Meets Requirements The proposed parking area would be located in the side and rear yards of the site. No parking would be located between the street right-of-way and the building. The design standards require that no more than 50 percent of parking on a site be placed between buildings. While slightly more than 50 percent of the additional parking space proposed would be located between the E Street Flats building and the retail building, overall a majority of the parking spaces on the site would be located in the rear of the two buildings. Parking lots adjacent to streets are required to be screened from view with landscaping or decorative masonry walls. Existing and proposed tree plantings along County Road E and Lexington Avenue should provide adequate screening of the parking areas on the site. A decorative four-foot wrought iron fence along County Road E is also proposed. This fence would be similar in appearance to the fence in front of the E Street Shoppes retail area. The landscaping plan shows a generous amount of plantings around the perimeter of the parking lot, which will help shade and soften this area. Pedestrian Circulation Meets Requirements Sites must be designed to accommodate the safe mobility of pedestrians to and within the site. The proposed site plan includes a sidewalk in front of the primary building entrance that connects to a public sidewalk on County Road E, a segment of which will be completed as part of this project. The remainder of the sidewalk along the property at 1201 County Road E will be completed by the City at a later date as part of the B-2 District streetscape improvement project. An existing sidewalk along Lexington Avenue connects the development to Shannon Square to the north and Arden Plaza to the south. Bicycle Parking Meets Requirements For commercial properties, one bicycle parking space is required for every 20 automobile parking spaces. In this case, given the 65 additional parking spaces being proposed, three parking spaces for bicycles would be required. The applicant has included three, inverted on the west side of the building, north of the primary entrance. The proposed bicycle parking its design and location. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 9 of 16 Section 1325.055 Tree Preservation Meets Requirements A Tree Preservation Plan is required as part of an application for new building construction in any zoning district. Fifteen significant trees totaling 222 caliper inches will be removed from the eastern portion of the site where the development is planned. All told, there are 1,227.5 caliper inches of trees on the property. Approximately 65 of these caliper inches were planted on the property as part of the E Street Flats redevelopment project. Ordinance allows up to 10 percent of the total caliper inches of trees on a site to be removed before mitigation is required. In this case, the permitted removal amount would be 123 caliper inches. Since the proposal includes the removal of more trees than allowed by the Ordinance, replacement tree plantings are required. The mitigation rate is calculated by subtracting the permitted removal from the proposed removal and dividing by two. For the current proposal, 49.5 caliper inches of trees would need to be planted and the applicant has included 53 caliper inches. The following table outlines these numbers. Caliper Inches Number of Trees Total Existing Trees 1,227.5 116 10% Permitted Removal 123 -- Proposed Removal 222 15 Trees Preserved 940 74 Replacement Trees 49.5 Required* Replacement Trees 53 (Goodwill Site) 20 Proposed * Replacement trees are calculated by subtracting the ten percent permitted removal from the proposed removal and dividing by two. Section 1325.06 Requirements for Parking, Loading and Circulation Location Meets Requirements The City Code requires that off-street parking spaces be located at least 20 feet from the right-of- way of any public street. Off-street parking on the proposed retail store site would be located a minimum of 30 feet from the right-of-way. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 10 of 16 Off-Street Parking Spaces Required Meets Requirements Parking requirements are determined by the types of land uses proposed for a site. For retail uses, the number of parking spaces required is based on the gross sales floor space. The proposed building would include 10,749 square feet of retail sales floor space. Based on this, 72 parking spaces would need to be provided. There are an additional 4,025 square feet of space that would be used for processing donations, which is classified as warehousing. For this type of use, one parking space is required for every 1,000 square feet of floor area. In this case, 4 spaces would be needed for a total requirement of 76 spaces between the two uses. The applicant has proposed constructing an additional 65 parking spaces on the site. To better accommodate truck movement on the site, staff is recommending that parking be restricted from four spaces located in proximity to the loading area. This recommendation is included as a proposed condition of approval. If the Planning Commission were to approve this condition, the total number of parking spaces would be reduced to 61. A total of 267 parking spaces are provided on the E Street Flats portion of the property. The City Code requires 242 parking spaces based on the current uses of the existing building. The applicant has proposed using the additional 25 parking spaces as overflow parking for the Goodwill store if needed. Joint parking facilities are permitted on the same lot for two or more uses when the number of spaces provided is equal to or greater than the sum of the separate requirements for each use and it can be demonstrated that there will not be substantial conflict in the principal operating hours of the uses to be served. Since the site is comprised of a single property, a shared parking agreement would not be required. 2.Chapter 12 Sign Code A. Wall Signage Meets Requirements 1201 County Road E is located in Sign District 5. The permitted amount of wall signage in this district is 80 square feet. In those cases where there are multiple tenants on a site, the permitted wall sign area may be installed by each individual business establishment. The applicant has proposed a total of 80 square feet of wall signage for the retail building, which would be divided between two, 40 square foot signs. The signs would be located on the parapets on the south and west sides of the building. No additional signage has been included in the proposal. 3.Traffic Study A traffic study for the proposed retail store was completed by SRF Consulting Group. The study evaluated existing traffic operations in the area, identified the traffic impacts of the development to the adjacent roadway network, and reviewed internal site operations with respect to access and circulation. Attachment E includes the full traffic study. The following is a summary of the main findings of the study. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 11 of 16 An existing capacity analysis was completed for the intersections at County Road E and Lexington Avenue and at County Road E and the Arden Plaza East Access to establish a baseline condition to which future traffic operations could be compared. The Arden Plaza East Access refers to the easterly driveway at 1201 County Road E. The analysis shows that the two intersections currently operate at an acceptable overall level of service or better during midday and p.m. peak hours. Traffic forecasts were developed for the year 2015 to provide an estimate of future traffic volumes within the study area. To identify impacts associated with the proposed development, a trip generation estimate was completed based on historical observation data collected at two Goodwill locations in the metro area. Additionally, the forecasts include an annual traffic growth rate of one-half percent to account for background growth in the area and assume full occupancy of the 74 apartment units at E Street Flats. The results of the year 2015 build operations analysis show that all study intersection are expected to still operate at an acceptable overall level of service during midday and p.m. peak hours. It should be noted that the southbound approach of the County Road E/Arden Plaza East Access intersection is expected to experience queuing of four to five vehicles during the p.m. peak hour. Queues of this magnitude are not expected to impact internal circulation. In their review of the proposed site plan, SRF made several recommendations to mitigate potential access and circulation issues. Of note, it was advised that delivery trucks only enter the site from the west on County Road E. Goodwill has already agreed with the property owner that their trucks would only access the site travelling east along County Road E. Other suggestions made in this section of the report have been included as recommended conditions of approval. 4.Additional Review A. Building Official and City Engineer The City Building Official has reviewed the plans and has notified the applicant that a sprinkler system will be required for the building and that all roof-mounted mechanical equipment must be completely screened from the ground-level view of adjacent properties and public streets. The City Engineer has reviewed the plans and provided the Community Development Department with his comments in the memo dated December 11, 2013 (Attachment F). Several of the comments included in this memo have since been addressed in the revised plan set submitted by the applicant. Other items have been included in the conditions of approval recommended by staff. B. Lake Johanna Fire Marshal The Lake Johanna Fire Marshal has reviewed the plan set and provided staff with his comments in the letter dated September 17, 2013 (Attachment G). City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 12 of 16 Findings of Fact The Planning Commission must make a finding as to whether or not the proposed PUD Amendment at 1201 County Road E would adversely affect the surrounding neighborhood or the community as a whole based on the aforementioned factors. Staff offers the following twelve (12) findings of fact for consideration: 1.The property is located in the B-2 General Business District. 2.The City has adopted the Guiding Plan for the B-2 District that outlines future development principals for the area. 3.The City has adopted additional Design Standards for the B-2 District within the Zoning Code. 4.The Master PUD at 1201 County Road E was approved by the City on December 21, 2012 in Planning Case 12-019. 5.The Master PUD Development Agreement requires that any significant changes to the approved plans be review by the Planning Commission and approved by the City Council. 6.The applicant is requesting approval of an Amendment to the approved PUD to construct a 17,743 square foot retail building on the southeast corner of the property at 1201 County Road E. 7.ed process with a developer. 8.The proposed PUD Amendment is in substantial conformance with the requirements of the Zoning Code and the B-2 District Design Standards. 9.Where the plan is not in conformance with the Zoning Code, flexibility has been requested by the applicant and/or conditions have been placed on an approval that would mitigate the nonconformities. 10.The property is located in Sign District 5. 11.The proposed PUD Amendment is in conformance with the requirements of Sign District 5 of the Sign Code. 12.The proposal is not anticipated to adversely affect the immediate area or the community as a whole. Notice Notice was published in the Arden Hills/Shoreview Bulletin and notice was prepared by the City and mailed to property owners within one thousand (1,000) feet of the subject property. Public Comments Staff has received several emails regarding this proposal, all of which have been requests for additional information on different aspects of the project. None of the emails received have City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 13 of 16 included a statement of support for or opposition against the proposal. No additional public comments have been received by mail or phone. Staff Recommendation Based on the submitted plans and findings of fact, staff recommends approval of Planning Case 13-017 for a Planned Unit Development Amendment at 1201 County Road E. Staff recommends the following twenty-four (24) conditions be included with the approval: 1.The project shall be completed in accordance with the submitted plans as amended by the conditions of approval. Any significant changes to these plans, as determined by the City Planner, shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission and City Council. 2.An amendment to the Development Agreement shall be prepared by the City Attorney and subject to City Council approval. The document shall be executed prior to the issuance of a grading and erosion control permit. 3.The applicant shall obtain a building permit within one year of the PUD Amendment approval or the approval shall expire unless extended by the City Council prior to the the City at least 45 days prior to the expiration date. 4.The applicant shall submit a financial surety in the amount of 125 percent of the estimated costs of site improvements including grading, utilities, and paving, prior to the issuance of a grading and erosion control permit. The financial surety shall be in the form of a letter of credit issued by a FDIC-insured Minnesota bank, and be in a form acceptable to the City. The purpose of the letter of credit is to ensure that site improvements are completed in the event that the developer defaults on the Development Agreement. 5.The applicant shall submit a cash escrow in the amount of 25 percent of the estimated costs of site improvements including grading, utilities, and paving, prior to the issuance of a grading and erosion control permit. The escrow will be used for City costs related to review, approval, and inspection of site improvements or any costs incurred by the City in the event of a developer default. 6.The applicant shall submit a financial surety in the amount of 125 percent of the estimated costs of landscaping prior to the issuance of a grading and erosion control permit. The financial surety shall be in the form of a letter of credit issued by a FDIC- insured Minnesota bank. The purpose of the letter of credit is to ensure that landscaping is completed in the event that the developer defaults on the Development Agreement. The City will hold the letter of credit for two years after the installation of landscaping. The letter of credit should not expire during the two-year period. 7.The applicant shall submit a cash escrow in the amount of 25 percent of the estimated costs of landscaping prior to the issuance of a grading and erosion control permit. The escrow will be held by the City for two years after installation of landscaping and used City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 14 of 16 for City costs related to review, approval, and inspection of landscaping, or developer default. 8.The applicant shall complete a sidewalk segment along the north side of County Road E from Lexington Avenue to the easterly driveway into 1201 County Road E. The City is currently holding $50,000 in escrow from the property owner for the completion of sidewalk improvements by the City along the entire length of the 1201 County Road E property. The City will return a portion of this escrow to the applicant based on a calculation of the estimated cost for the City to complete the remaining sidewalk between the easterly driveway and the western border of the 1201 County Road E property. 9.The plans shall be subject to Fire Marshall and Ramsey County Sheriff approval prior to the issuance of a building permit. 10.A lighting and photometric plan shall be reviewed and approved by the City and the Ramsey County Sheriff prior to issuance of a building permit. 11.Upon completion of grading and utility work on the site, a grading asbuilt and utility asbuilt shall be provided to the City for review. 12.The applicant shall provide the City with a copy of the NPDES construction permit required for the site. 13.The applicant shall acquire a Right-of-Way permit from Ramsey County for any work completed in the County Road E and Lexington Avenue Right-of-Way. 14.A fire hydrant shall be located within 150 feet of F.D.C. 15.A Fire Department lock box shall be provided on the site. 16.All spandrel glass used on the retail building shall be light grey or other color that closely matches the appearance of the transparent glass being used. 17.Roof-mounted mechanical equipment shall be completely screened from the ground-level view of adjacent properties and public streets. 18.The property owner shall coordinate with the City to ensure that any plantings in the gateway sign use of the easement. 19.No semi-trailer trucks shall enter or exit the site between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M. 20.For twelve (12) months following the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy, the owner/developer may operate without regard to the condition regarding hour restrictions for truck operations (Condition #19). At the end of that period, the City at its discretion may in writing extend the exception to the restriction, allow it to expire, or process a permanent amendment to the PUD. 21.Any future subdivision of the property at 1201 County Road E shall be conditioned on the prohibition of direct access to Lexington Avenue or new access to County Road E. The existing County Road E access may be relocated with City and County approval. 22.The metal screen and gate around the loading area shall be light tan to match the color of the brick used on the building façade. 23.On-site wayfinding signage shall be installed to clearly identify the donation drop-off location. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 15 of 16 24.The four (4) dashed parking spaces as shown on the AS100 Site Plan shall be removed in order to accommodate truck maneuvering on site and access to the loading area. Options 1.Recommend Approval with Conditions: Motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 13-017 for a Planned Unit Development Amendment at 1201 County Road E based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans as amended by the twenty-four (24) conditions in the January 8, 2014, Report to the Planning Commission. 2.Recommend Approval as Submitted: Motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 13- 017 for a Planned Unit Development Amendment at 1201 County Road E based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans in the January 8, 2014, Report to the Planning Commission. 3.Recommend Denial: Motion to recommend denial of Planning Case 13-017 for a Planned Unit Development Amendment at 1201 County Road E based on the following findings of fact: findings to deny should specifically reference the reasons for denial and why those reasons cannot be mitigated. 4.Table: Motion to table Planning Case 13-017 for a Planned Unit Development Amendment at 1201 County Road E in order to gather the following information: a specific reason and/or information request should be included with a motion to table. Deadline for Agency Actions The City of Arden Hills received the completed application for this request on December 18, 2013. Pursuant to Minnesota State Statute, the City must act on this request by February 16, 2014 (60 days), unless the City provides the petitioner with written reasons for an additional 60 day review period. The City may, with the consent of the applicant, extend the review period beyond the initial 120 days. Attachments A.Land Use Application and Project Narrative B.Site Location and Aerial Map C.Project Plan Set D.Site Plan and Perspective Drawings of Loading Area E.Traffic Study, SRF Consulting Group, December 30, 2013 F.City Engineer Memo, December 11, 2013 G.Lake Johanna Fire Department Letter, September 17, 2013 City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 8, 2014 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2013\PC 13-017 - PUD Amendment_1201 County Road E - Goodwill\Memos_13-017 Page 16 of 16 AttachmentA AttachmentB PC #13-017 PUD Amendment - 1201 County Road E 466.13932.3Feet 932.3 0 1:5,594 NAD_1983_HARN_Adj_MN_Ramsey_Feet Notes © Ramsey County Enterprise GIS Division Enter Map Description This map is a user generated static output from an Internet mapping site and is for reference only. Data layers that appear on this map may or may not be accurate, current, or otherwise reliable. THIS MAP IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION eunevA notgnixeL CONTRACTORSTRUCTURALCIVILCLIENT 1Revised Planning Submittal11-27-13 Site Plan REGISTRATION NUMBERDATE Date:Issue: SIGNATURE PRINT NAME State of Minnesota. Licensed Architect under the laws of the direct supervision and that I am a duly or report was prepared by me or under my I hereby certify that this plan, specification, PROPERTY LINE 24'-0"19'-3"14'-5" 107'-8" 15'-0" 18'-0"24'-0"18'-0"16'-1"27'-6"8'-4"27'-0"9'-0"18'-0"9'-0"27'-0"9'-0" 25'-10 3/4" 18'-0"9'-2"63'-0"9'-10" 7'-7 1/2"28'-0"12'-8"81'-0"12'-0"24'-0" CONTRACTORSTRUCTURALCIVILCLIENT 1Revised Planning Submittal11-27-13 Perspective Views REGISTRATION NUMBERDATE Date:Issue: SIGNATURE PRINT NAME State of Minnesota. Licensed Architect under the laws of the direct supervision and that I am a duly or report was prepared by me or under my I hereby certify that this plan, specification, AttachmentE Memorandum SRF No. 0138328 To: Ryan Streff, City Planner CAH ITY OF RDEN ILLS From: Matthew Pacyna, P.E., Associate Tom Sachi, EIT, Engineer Date: December 30, 2013 Subject: AHGTS RDEN ILLS OODWILL RAFFIC TUDY Introduction As requested, SRF has completed a traffic study for the proposed Goodwill store in the City of Arden Hills. The proposed development is located in the northwest quadrant of the County Road E/Lexington Avenue intersection (see Figure 1). The study are to evaluate existing traffic operations in the study a adjacent roadway network, and review internal site operations with respect to access, circulation, and donation drop-offs. This study will also identify potential impr Existing Conditions The existing conditions were reviewed to establish a baseline to compare and determine future impacts associated with the proposed development. The evaluation of existing conditions includes midday and p.m. peak hour intersection counts, field observations, and an intersection capacity analysis. It should be noted that the existing a.m. peak hour conditions were not reviewed since the proposed Goodwill store is not expected to be open for business during the a.m. peak hour. Data Collection Intersection vehicular turning movement counts were collected by SRF during the midday and p.m. peak periods the week of December 9, 2013 at the following locat County Road E and Lexington Avenue County Road E and Arden Plaza East Access In addition to the intersection counts, observations were comple characteristics within the study area (i.e. roadway geometry, posted speed limits, and traffic controls). Currently, County Road E is primarily a five-lane roadway (i.e. center left-turn lane) while Lexington Avenue is a four-lane roa study area. The posted speed limits along County Road E and Lexington Avenue are 35 miles per hour (mph) and 40 mph, respectively. Ryan Streff December 30, 2013 City of Arden Hills Page 3 The County Road E/Lexington Avenue intersection is currently signalized, while the County Road E/Arden Plaza East Access intersection is side-street stop controlled. The existing geometrics, traffic controls, and volumes within the study area are shown in Intersection Capacity Analysis An existing intersection capacity analysis was completed to establish a baseline condition to which future traffic operations could be compared. The existing study intersections were analyzed using a combination of Synchro/SimTraffic (Version 8.0) and the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). Capacity analysis results identify a Level of Service (LOS) which indicates how well an intersection is operating. Intersections are ranked from LOS A through LOS F. The LOS results are based on average delay per vehicle, which correspond to the delay threshold values shown in Table 1. LOS A indicates the best traffic operation and LOS F in demand exceeds capacity. Overall intersection LOS A through D is generally considered acceptable by drivers in the study area. Table 1.Level of Service Criteria for Signalized and Unsignalize Signalized Intersection Unsignalized Intersection LOS Designation Average Delay/Vehicle (seconds) Average Delay/Vehicle (seconds) A B - - C - - D - - E - - F For side-street stop controlled intersections, special emphasis is given to providing an estimate for the level of service of the side-street approach. Traffic operations at an unsignalized intersection with side-street stop control can be described in two ways. First, consideration is given to the overall intersection level of service. This takes into account the total number of vehicles entering the intersection and the capability of the intersection to support these volumes. Second, it is important to consider the delay on the minor approach. Since the mainline does not have to stop, the majority of delay is attributed to the side-street approaches. It is typical of intersections with higher mainline traffic volumes to experience high levels of delay (i.e. poor levels of service) on the side-street approaches, but an acceptable overall intersection level of serv Results of the existing capacity analysis shown in Table 2 indic currently operate at an acceptable overall LOS C or better during the midday and p.m. peak hours with the existing traffic control and geometric layout. The side minimal delay. However, it should be noted that there is a minor queuing issue at the County Road E/Lexington Avenue intersection during the p.m. peak hour. Vehicles in the eastbound left-turn lane occasionally queue beyond the current turn lane storage, but do not impact the adjacent intersection. Ryan Streff December 30, 2013 City of Arden Hills Page 5 Table 2.Existing Peak Hour Capacity Analysis Midday Peak P.M. Peak Intersection LOS Delay LOS Delay County Road E and Lexington Avenue B 4 sec. C 24 sec. County Road E and Arden Plaza East Access A/A 6 sec. A/B sec. Indicates an unsignalized intersection with side-street stop conoach LOS. The delay shown represents the worst side-street approach delay. Proposed Development The proposed development consists of a 17,750 square foot Goodwill retail store/donation center. Access to the proposed development is planned to be provided via the Arden Plaza East Access driveway along County Road E (see Figure 3: Site Plan). This access is shared with the adjacent apartment building to the west. Construction of the proposed development is expected to be completed in the year 2014. Year 2015 Build Conditions Traffic Forecasts Traffic forecasts were developed to provide an estimate for the future traffic volumes within the study area. As previously mentioned, construction of the proposed development is expected to be completed in the year 2014. Therefore, year 2015 build conditions (one year after construction) were reviewed. To account for general background growth in the area, an annual growth rate of one-half percent was applied to the existing peak hour volumes to develop year 2015 background traffic forecasts. This growth rate is consistent with historical average daily traffic (ADT) volumes. Furthermore since the adjacent apartment was recently opened, only 26 of the 74 units are currently occupied. Therefore the existing driveway turning movement counts were adj occupancy of the adjacent apartment. To identify traffic impacts associated with the proposed development, a trip generation estimate was completed for the proposed Goodwill store. These types of stores have been observed to generate trips differently than typical free standing discount stores. Therefore, historical observation data from two existing Goodwill locations (Maple Grove and Hopkins) was utilized. These surveys were completed by SRF Consulting Group in April 2010 during the p.m. peak period (i.e. between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.). For comparison purposes, a trip generation estimate was also calculated using the ITE Trip Generation Manual, 9th Edition. Ryan Streff December 30, 2013 City of Arden Hills Page 7 Based on trip generation estimates shown in Table 3, the proposed development is expected to generate 138 midday and p.m. peak hour trips, and approximately should be noted that midday peak hour observations were collected at the Hopkins store in December 2013, which indicated the midday and p.m. peak hour tri similar. Therefore, for purposes of this study, the observed average trip generation was utilized for the midday and p.m. peak hours. Table 3.Trip Generation Estimates Midday and P.M. Peak Hour Trips Daily Land Use Type (ITE Code) Retail Store Donation Drop-Off Total Trips In Out In Out In Out Observed Existing Maple Grove Goodwill 47 64 --- Existing Hopkins Goodwill 24 24 64 78 --- Observed Average 47 67 --- ITE Estimate --- --- --- --- 44 44 The proposed development trips were distributed throughout the study area based on the directional distribution shown in Figure 4. The distribution was developed based on a combination of existing travel patterns, historical AADT volumes in the area, and engineering judgment. The combination of background traffic and adjacent/proposed development trips, which represents the year 2015 build condition, is shown in Figure 5. Year 2015 Build Intersection Operations Analysis To determine if the existing roadway network can accommodate the year 2015 build traffic forecasts, a detailed traffic capacity analysis was completed. T analyzed using a combination of Synchro/SimTraffic and the HCM. For reporting purposes, only the SimTraffic results were used. Results of the year 2015 build operations analysis shown in Table 4 indicate that all study intersections are expected to operate at an acceptable overall LOS C or better during the midday and p.m. peak hours with the existing traffic control and geometric layout. However, the southbound approach of the County Road E/Arden Plaza East Access intersection is expected to operate at LOS F during the p.m. peak hour. Side-street delays of this magnitude are relatively common during peak periods and generally do not warrant mitigation. Ryan Streff December 30, 2013 City of Arden Hills Page 10 Table 4.Year 2015 Build Peak Hour Capacity Analysis Midday Peak P.M. Peak Intersection LOS Delay LOS Delay County Road E and Lexington Avenue B C 27 sec. County Road E and Arden Plaza East Access A/C A/F Indicates an unsignalized intersection with side-street stop conoach LOS. The delay shown represents the worst side-street approach delay. The southbound 95th percentile queue during the p.m. peak hour is approximately 100 feet, which equates to four or five vehicles. Queues of this magnitude are not expected to impact internal circulation. It should be noted that the minor queuing issue identified under existing conditions at the County Road E/Lexington Avenue intersection is expected to continue. However, these queues are not expected to impact operations of the proposed site access. Furthermore, Ramsey County is planning to reconstruct County Road E, which will provide additional intersection capacity (i.e. dual eastbound left-turn lanes) and reduce the potential for eastbound queues to impact the site access. No other significant delay or queuing issues are expected under the year 2015 build conditions. Site Plan Review A review of the proposed site plan was completed to identify any issues with respect to access, circulation, and donation drop-off operations. The following issues and potential mitigation are offered for consideration. Trucks arriving from the east along County Road E are expected to have difficulty maneuvering into the site and should be restricted, if possible. This will require coordination between Goodwill and delivery drivers to ensure all trucks o enter from the west along County Road E. To accommodate truck maneuvers on site and in particular access to the loading area, parking should be restricted from the dashed spaces shown on Figure 3. Parked vehicles in these spaces have the potential to conflict w o Goodwill should coordinate with truck drivers to ensure deliveries occur outside of the store peak periods to reduce potential conflicts at the site access. The donation drop-off vehicle storage is planned to be approximately 100 feet, which can accommodate approximately four or five vehicles. Although this storage is considered adequate based on field observations at other facilities, if o issues arise, reversing the one-way operations of the donation drop-off area should be considered to increase vehicle storage. On-site wayfinding signage should be incorporated to clearly identify the donation drop-off location. Ryan Streff December 30, 2013 City of Arden Hills Page 11 Findings and Recommendations Based on our review, the following findings and recommendations are offered for your consideration. Intersection turning movement counts were collected by SRF during the midday and p.m. peak periods the week of December 9, 2013. Results of the existing capacity analysis indicate that all study intersections currently operate at an acceptable overall LOS C or better during the midday and p.m. side-street delays were observed. Minor queuing occurs at the County Road E/Lexington Avenue intersection during the p.m. o peak hour. Vehicles in the eastbound left-turn lane occasionally queue beyond the current turn lane storage, but do not impact the adjacent intersection. The proposed development is a 17,750 square foot Goodwill retail store/donation center. Access to the proposed development is planned to be provided via the County Road E/Arden Plaza East Access intersection. The proposed development is expected to generate 138 peak hour trips during the midday and p.m. peak hours and approximately 1,000 to 1,500 daily trips. To account for general background growth in the area, an annual growth rate of one-half percent was applied to the existing turning movement counts. The movement counts were also adjusted to account for full occupancy of the adjacent apartment. Results of the year 2015 build operations analysis indicate that all study intersections are expected to operate at an acceptable overall LOS C or better during the midday and p.m. peak hours with the existing traffic control and geometric layout. The southbound approach of the County Road E/Arden Plaza East Access intersection is expected to operate at LOS F during the p.m. peak hour. Side-street delays of this magnitude are relatively common during peak periods and generally do not warrant mitigation. The southbound 95th percentile queue during the p.m. peak hour is approximately 100 feet, o which equates to four or five vehicles. Queues of this magnitude are not expected to impact internal circulation. The minor queuing issue identified under existing conditions at the County Road E/ o Lexington Avenue intersection is expected to continue. However, Ramsey County is planning to reconstruct County Road E, which will provide additional intersection capacity and reduce the potential for eastbound queues to impact the site The following site circulation/access issues and potential mitig consideration: Trucks arriving from the east along County Road E are expected to have difficulty o maneuvering into the site and should be restricted, if possible. Ryan Streff December 30, 2013 City of Arden Hills Page 12 To accommodate truck maneuvers on site and in particular access to the loading area, o parking should be restricted from the dashed spaces shown on Figure 3. Goodwill should coordinate with truck drivers to ensure deliveries occur outside of the store o peak periods to reduce potential conflicts at the site access. Although the donation drop-off storage is considered adequate based on field observations o at other facilities, if issues arise, reversing the one-way operations should be considered to increase vehicle storage. On-site wayfinding signage should be incorporated to clearly identify the donation drop-off o location. H:\Projects\8328\TS\Report\131230_ArdenHillsGoodwill_TrafficStudy.docx AttachmentF MEMORANDUM DATE: December 11, 2013 TO:Matthew Bachler, Planner FROM: John M. Anderson, Assistant City Engineer SUBJECT:Goodwill Site Review I have reviewed the revised civil plans for the Goodwill. The plans were prepared by Plowe Engineering Inc. and are dated 11/27/13. The following are my comments: 1.Drainage calculations have not been provided. The site was included in the drainage design for the e Street flats site. Drainage calculations are need to show the assumptions made in the original calculations are valid. 2.Site grading is not acceptable as proposed, the building floor elevation is set too low to match into the curb line on County Road E 3.The grading along Lexington Avenue shows a swale to drain the area between the building and the sidewalk. The slope of this swale is too flat. Drainage swales should be graded to 2%. In special cases where there are no other options 1% slope may be acceptable. 4.Provide an estimate of earthwork needed to grade the site along with estimated shortage or excess of materials 5.Provide a cost estimate of private and public site improvements 6.Show a 6 foot concrete sidewalk to be constructed and paid for as part of this site development along the North side of County Road E from Lexington Avenue running west to the easterly driveway into the e Street flats site. 7.Show the future curb line and grade for the County Road E turn lane modifications 8.Determine if the trees along the north side of County Road E need to be removed to construct the sidewalk. 9.Show how the roof drainage is directed and if it is connected to the storm sewer system 10.The existing bus bench located along the sidewalk on Lexington is not shown 11.The water service is shown to be created as a result of modifying the existing hydrant lead. The service will need to be controlled by a new 6 inch gate valve installed on the hydrant lead where the hydrant is removed. The hydrant and valve are to be salvaged to . P:\PR&PW\Numbered Projects\PW-13-0112 Goodwill Lexington and co rd E\12-11-13 plan review.doc Page 1 of 2 the City of Arden Hills and a new hydrant and valve, supplied by the development will be connected and installed in the boulevard along County Road E. 12.Provide the city with a copy of the maintenance agreement for the stormwater pond as required by the Rice Creek Watershed permit for e Street flats. 13.Provide an anticipated construction schedule for site improvements and the construction of the building. 14.A Rice Creek Watershed permit may be required for the site. Please provide a copy of this permit once it has been issued. A NPDES construction permit will be required for the site, please provide a copy of this permit once it has been issued. 15.A Ramsey County ROW permit will be needed for work in the County Road E and Lexington Ave Right of Way. 16.A City of Arden Hills Grading and Erosion Control Permit will be required for the work proposed. As part of the Grading and Erosion Control permit a Erosion and Sediment control plan needs to be submitted. 17. At the completion of the project an as-built survey will be required. The survey should be submitted for review and approval. Once the survey is acceptable the City requires one mylar and two paper full size copies along with Autocad and PDF digital files. . P:\PR&PW\Numbered Projects\PW-13-0112 Goodwill Lexington and co rd E\12-11-13 plan review.doc Page 2 of 2 AttachmentG MEMORANDUM DATE:January 8, 2014 TO:Planning Commission Chair Larson and Commissioners FROM:Jill Hutmacher, Community Development Director SUBJECT:TCAAP Update Requested Action None. Master Plan The Arden Hills City Council reviewed the first draft of the Master Plan on December 16 and 26, 2013. The City Council provided a list of concerns for consideration by the Arden Hills Planning Commission.The Planning Commission will review the draft Master Plan at a work session meeting immediately following the regular Planning Commission meeting on January 8, 2014. Next Steps The next TCAAP open house is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22, 2014, 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Marsden Room at the Ramsey County Public Works Facility. 11 Page of