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HRA Meeting <br />Minutes – Tuesday, February 18, 2014 <br />Page 5 <br />1 <br />Member Etten expressed appreciation in providing two-car garages and parking pads for two <br />2 <br />(2) vehicles for the townhomes, opining that it would make for a more salable product. <br />3 <br />Member Etten questioned the setbacks for sidewalks and boulevards, asking if they had <br />4 <br />received input from the City’s Public Works Department to determine if sufficient space was <br />5 <br />available for snow storage. <br />6 <br />7 <br />Ms. Timm advised that, with the exception of final setbacks on Dale Street, there should be <br />8 <br />healthy boulevards to accommodate both the sidewalk and setback. <br />9 <br />10 <br />Mr. Buelow thanked Mr. Etten for his suggestion to meet with the Public Works Department, <br />11 <br />and duly noted that suggestion. <br />12 <br />13 <br />Member Etten questioned if there was any way to address additional parking needs other than <br />14 <br />on-street parking, citing examples of problems developing with on-street parking and snow <br />15 <br />removal attempts. Member Etten asked if the developers would see if there was any way to <br />16 <br />add more off-street parking within the development, while balancing runoff and green space <br />17 <br />issues, understanding all of those issues. <br />18 <br />19 <br />While Ms. Kelsey pointed out that the current site plan doesn’t show sidewalks on Lovell or <br />20 <br />Cope Avenues, Mr. Buelow advised that they were proposed, as well as adding trees and <br />21 <br />vegetation, a specific request of the neighborhood as noted by Ms. Timm. <br />22 <br />23 <br />Mr. Rhoades noted that the land was owned by the City, and expressed willingness to work <br />24 <br />cooperatively to provide suitable sidewalks and boulevards, as well as installing trees around <br />25 <br />the entire project site. <br />26 <br />27 <br />At the request of Acting Chair Majerus, Mr. Buelow advised that snow removal in the <br />28 <br />alleyways was still being finalized; with Mr. Rhoades advising that the proposed rainwater <br />29 <br />garden locations could also provide additional areas for snow storage. Ms. Timm noted that a <br />30 <br />wider alley was being proposed to accommodate extra snow. <br />31 <br />32 <br />With Ms. Kelsey noting the addition of two (2) parking spaces between Dale Street and the <br />33 <br />interior of the project, Ms. Timm noted that they could look at that nook and consider if any <br />34 <br />additional spaces could be fit in to provide parking and/or snow storage. <br />35 <br />36 <br />Member Etten noted that, during the CDI process, neighbors had specifically asked for <br />37 <br />sidewalks to circle throughout the development, allowing walking in that partial block and <br />38 <br />making a loop at Dale Street rather than dodging cars. Member Etten noted that the proposed <br />39 <br />sidewalks met and fit with the community vision; and expressed his appreciation that including <br />40 <br />a sidewalk along the entire section was still under discussion. <br />41 <br />42 <br />Mr. Rhoades concurred that, while vegetation provided a good opportunity to define the <br />43 <br />neighborhood, Ms. Timm had brought up a good point in needing to strengthen the sidewalk <br />44 <br />within the project itself. <br />45 <br />46 <br />Member Masche agreed with comments preferring off-street versus on-street parking; and <br />47 <br />suggested perhaps considering off-street parking options below Lovell Avenue, opining that <br />48 <br />neighbors may be appreciative of finding some “hidden” parking options. <br />49 <br />50 <br />Mr. Rhoades noted that some visitor parking was available between units; and consideration <br />51 <br />could be given to switch some parking along the perimeter with current proposed patio areas. <br />52 <br />Mr. Rhoades advised that the development team had been struggling to get as much green <br />53 <br />space in as possible while balancing the need for impervious surfaces. <br />54 <br /> <br />