HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-059 and Findings of Fact�
EN HILLS
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-059
RESOLUTION DENYING A PRELIMINARY PLAT, FINAL PLAT,
MASTER PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND SITE PLAN REVIEW
FOR THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AT 3737 LEXINGTON AVENUE
NORTH AND 1133 GREY FOX ROAD
WHEREAS, City Staff received a land use application for a Preliminary Plat, Final Plat,
Master Planned Unit Development, and Site Plan Review to redevelop the property for an Aldi
supermarket accompanied by a two-tenant retail building for a national dental group and Bank of
America and flexibility was requested under the Master Planned Unit Development for general
district provision requirements in the B-3 District at 3737 Lexington Avenue North and 1133 Grey
Fox Road ("Subject Property");
WHEREAS, the Subject Property is currently developed as a vacant industrial building
with an associated parking lot;
WHEREAS, per the City Code, the Planned Unit Development (PUD) District promotes
the development of land in a unified manner by treating the entire development as a single entity
and relaxing the strict application of standard zoning and subdivision requirements, in exchange
for a project that better forwards the goals and purpose of the City's Comprehensive Plan, and the
purpose of the PUD process is to achieve a higher quality, better project than would otherwise be
possible if the strict application of the zoning and subdivision requirements were met
WHEREAS, a Planned Unit Development proposal shall identify any requested
modifications from the applicable zoning requirements as well as the reasons why the
modifcations would be in the public interest and would be consistent with the purpose of the
underlying B-3 District. Modifications to these requirements may be granted by the City without
a variance through the Planned Unit Development process;
WHEREAS, the City Council directed Staff to prepare a Land Use Application Public
Policy Notification to notify all property owners within 1000 feet of Subject Property when a
request for the Planning Commission is to occur related to a land use application that does require
a public hearing;
WHEREAS, the City's obligation has been met where the Arden Hills Planning
Commission duly held a hearing on September 8th, 2021. All persons present at said meeting
were given an opportunity to be heard and present written statements;
WHEREAS the Planning Commission considered the recommendation of the City Staff
that this request be approved and, as such voted 5-0 in favor of the request;
WHEREAS the City Council considered the recommendation of the Planning
Commission on October 11'h, 2021 and determined that the Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, Master
Planned Unit Development, and Site plan Review request was not justified by the findings of fact
provided;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS:
Hereby adopts Resolution 2021-059 denying Planning Case 21-019 for a Preliminary Plat,
Final Plat, Master Planned Unit Development, and Site Plan Review request at the Subject
Property 3737 Lexington Avenue North and 1133 Grey Fox Road to redevelop the property for an
Aldi supermarket accompanied by a two-tenant retail building for a national dental group and Bank
of America.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City Council denies Planning Case 21-019 for a
Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, Master Planned Unit Development, and Site Plan Review request at
the Subject Property 3737 Lexington Avenue North and 1133 Grey Fox Road, based on the
findings of fact and the submitted plans in the October 11, 2021 Report to the City Council:
1. The subject property located at 3737 Lexington Avenue North and 1133 Grey Fox
Road is currently zoned B-3. The applicant's proposal meets the B-3 zoning
requirements.
2. The Arden Hills 2040 Comprehensive Plan designates the future land use of the
subject property as commercial use.
3. The applicant's proposal seeks flexibility under the Master Planned Unit
Development for general district provision requirements.
4. The properties include a lot reconfiguration that would adjust the existing lot line to
the east. The site currently contains a vacant industrial building and associated
parking lot. The applicant proposes to plat the properties to adjust the lot lines,
demolish the existing building and redevelop the site.
5. The redevelopment of the site will consist of two buildings that function under
shared parking, access, maintenance and other items.
6. In B-3 zoning districts, proposal for new construction, redevelopment of a site, and
significant modification to existing sites shall use the Planned Unit Development
process.
7. The applicant proposes a significant number of deviations from city development
standards as outlined in the staff report and discussed in full by the City Council.
8. Many if not most of the deviations or requests for flexibility, including notable the
yard setbacYcs, landscaping, and building positioning, are due to the number and size
of the proposed buildings.
To view the final document, access adopted Resolutions via Arden Hills Public Laserfiche Weblink by visiting
cityofardenhills. org and clicking on Archived Documents under Helpful Links on our main webpage.
9.The application proposes no offsetting enhancements or benefits to the City or
neighboring properties in exchange for the flexibility sought.
10.Elimination of the proposed multi-tenant building on the east portion of the site
would also eliminate most if not all requests for flexibility or deviations from
adopted standards.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
THIS 25 th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2021.
Mayor
Attest: --------------City Clerk
To view the final document, access adopted Resolutions via Arden Hills Public Laserjiche Web/ink by visiting cityofardenhills. org and clicking on Archived Documents under Helpful Links on our main webpage.
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA
IN RE:
APPLICATION OF LAUNCH PROPERTIES, LLC
FOR PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT
APPROVAL, MASTER PLANNED UNIT FINDINGS OF FACT
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND SITE AND DECISION
PLAN AGREEMENT FOR PROPERTY AT 3737
LEXINGTON AVENUE NORTH AND 1133 GREY
FOX ROAD, ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA
(PLANNING CASE 21-019)
On October 11, 2021, the Arden Hills City Council met to consider the application of
Launch Properties, LLC for Preliminary and Final Plat, Master Planned Unit Development
Agreement, and Site Plan to redevelop two properties located at 3737 Lexington Avenue North
and 1133 Grey Fox Road. The application is intended to authorize the redevelopment of the
property for an Aldi supermarket accompanied by a two-tenant retail building for a national
dental group and Bank of America, as detailed in the project narrative and staff reports to the
Planning Commission and City Council.
The City Council considered the following information on the proposal: the application
and materials submitted by the applicant; materials and reports provided by City Staff;
information from the Public Hearing and Planning Commission meetings on the application
including its report and recommendation; written comments and testimony from all interested
persons; and based upon its knowledge of the subject property and the community, now makes
the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The subject property located at 3737 Lexington Avenue North and 1133 Grey Fox Road
is currently zoned B-3. The applicant's proposal meets the B-3 zoning requirements.
2. The Arden Hills 2040 Comprehensive Plan designates the future land use of the subject
property as commercial use.
3. The applicant's proposal seeks flexibility under the Master Planned Unit Development for
general district provision requirements.
4. The properties include a lot reconfiguration that would adjust the existing lot line to the
east. The site currently contains a vacant industrial building and associated parking lot.
The applicant proposes to plat the properties to adjust the lot lines, demolish the existing
building and redevelop the site.
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5.The redevelopment of the site will consist of two buildings that function under shared
parking, access, maintenance and other items.
6.In B-3 zoning districts, proposal for new construction, redevelopment of a site, and
significant modification to existing sites shall use the Planned Unit Development process.
7.The applicant proposes a significant number of deviations from city development
standards as outlined in the staff report and discussed in full by the City Council.
8.Many if not most of the deviations or requests for flexibility, including notable the yard
setbacks, landscaping, and building positioning, are due to the number and size of the
proposed buildings.
9.The application proposes no offsetting enhancements or benefits to the City or
neighboring properties in exchange for the flexibility sought.
10.Elimination of the proposed multi-tenant building on the east portion of the site would
also eliminate most if not all requests for flexibility or deviations from adopted standards.
DECISION
Based upon these Findings of Fact and the Council's knowledge of the Subject Property,
the neighborhood and the community, the application for the proposed Preliminary and Final
Plat, Master Planned Unit Development Agreement, and Site Plan, the City Council hereby
denies Applicant's request.
ADOPTED by the Arden Hills City Council this �day of c)c/4/ur , 2021.
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
By: --..,,c..J�W��� David Grant, Its Mayor
ATTEST:
Julie Hanson, Its City Clerk
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