Laserfiche WebLink
� � <br />enjoyment of Autumn Street that we now enjoy. This building has a very large parking lot (an <br />estimated 17 parking spots in a building proposed for use as a 15 to 20 seat deli) on the north <br />side of the building, and which is more than sufficient for any conceivable use that this proposal <br />or future proposals could design. <br />There can be no doubt that the use of the south side presents an immediate threat to the integrity <br />of the neighborhood. To understand why, you have to consider the actual behavior of traffic at <br />this intersection. It can be difficult to turn out of Autumn Street onto Lexington, especially left <br />into the third lane of traffc, but right as well. Why would the property owners seek to make use <br />of Autumn Street as a"take out" window? Because a south-facing aspect to the building offers a <br />temptingly convenient route for customers to make use of Autumn Street as a thoroughfare to <br />their business without need to use Lexington, or to avoid making a left-hand turn across the busy <br />Lexington thoroughfare. Catering delivery out of the south side of the building, heading to any <br />destinations west of Lexington—e.g., the Roseville Professional Building on Hamline near the <br />Public Library—would naturally use Autumn Street. Many patrons using the take-out window <br />for pickup of catered trays and boxed sandwiches would find that the route over to Roselawn, <br />and then to Hamline, would be the path of least resistance. The potential for increased traffic, <br />and particularly at the higher speeds driven by non-residents who do not appreciate the number <br />of small children who have been known to play in the area, would pose an increased threat to the <br />safety, enjoyment, and welfare of this R-1, low-density neighborhood. <br />As long-term residents, we also appreciate how small businesses come and go. In its history, this <br />property has seen life as a veterinary office, professional office, and hair salon, to name just a <br />few. We believe the City must also consider the long-term impact of this rezoning. After the <br />alteration of this property to include a take-out window, another even more intensive B-1 b- <br />qualified business could establish themselves in this property with no further permits required by <br />the City. Imagine, as we have, that Domino's Pizza decided to locate here, with a carryout <br />window and a fleet of drivers, to compete with the Papa John's located in the Lexington- <br />Larpenteur stripmall. That would be identical in nature to this business here, but would produce <br />a mammoth amount of fast-moving traffic on the conveniently traffic-free Autumn Street. This <br />result is unthinkable to the residents of Autumn Street—both to the senior citizens who speak of <br />the historic quiet of the street and the younger residents who enjoy the safety provided by the <br />neighborhood—but it is a very real, plausible consequence of the decision that must be <br />considered when reviewing this re-zoning and permit application. <br />The City of Roseville long-ago foresaw the need to protect sensitive residential streets in the <br />Lexington-Roselawn intersection. All of the businesses at this intersection are given an "LB" <br />designation in the Comprehensive Plan. While LB admits of more than one zoning categories <br />(including both B-1 and B-1 b), three months ago the City's own staff, in Section 6.3 of the <br />planning document for the review of the Bookhouse application (PF07-O50), emphasized the <br />Comprehensive Plan's commitment to "fairly low traffic generating users" °* *���=�J��'�=. <br />particular, in that planning document the City's staff drew the distinction with a"convenience <br />business that relies on drive-by traffic," and stated the staffs belief that "all of the proposed <br />allowed uses" in that property "would be similar low-traffic, destination businesses...." <br />Circumstances have not changed in the past three months since the City approved that <br />application. There is no distinction in the city code between a"drive thru" and a take-out <br />o� i'ti,a-�- P�P��►, <br />In i,•� �i1.te, <br />e.�-i n� P � �J <br />