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Calibre Ridge partnership, Case No. 2355 Page 4 13-unit structures. The proposed uses are compatible with the area and generally consistent with the Land Use Plan and zoning. An important issue in planning for this land is the appropriateness of the use, given the character and location of the property. The site is partially wooded and slopes generally north to south, away from the single family neighbors to the north down to Highway 36. There are six neighboring single family homes to the north and three to the west that directly abut the property. An apartment building and the Country Kitchen restaurant abut the property to the east. Another two homes are in close proximity to the north and west. Although the property fronts the Highway 36 right-of-way, the highway access ramp is 150' to 200' away from the edge of the property, and the actual driving lanes of Highway 36 are 240' away. The result is that there is a long frontage with no neighbors (the highway), but the highway itself is far enough away to not be a major intrusion, and is separated from the property by a chain link fence. There are dozens of single family homes in this neighborhood, and elsewhere in the City, that are closer to Highway 36 than the closest of these units would be. There is a border with a commercial use (the restaurant), but no units abut that side of the site. Where there are single family neighbors adjacent to the north, the site slopes down, making future structures much less visible or intrusive. And the structures that would be visible are two-story instead of three-story buildings, in this latest proposal. Where there are existing single family neighbors to the west, there is considerable existing tree cover and substantial new evergreen and overstory landscaping proposed. Taken together, these characteristics of the property allow for reasonable buffering and separation of existing and proposed land uses. In placing a medium density project, such as Calibre Ridge, adjacent to a single family neighborhood, the issues of noise and traffic are also considerations. The site has two vehicular and pedestrian access points, both to well-travelled collector streets, Rice street and Minnesota Avenue. There is no street connection to Marion street, even though there is a 15' -wide strip of property that extends west to the Marion street right-of-way. This narrow connection had been proposed for a sidewalk and bike path, and is shown as such on the plans and is referred to in the cover letter from the developers. This proposed path connection has been dropped, however, in recent discussions with affected neighbors. It turns out that this piece of property, although privately owned and part of the property for this PUD, has access easements over it, allowing two of the neighbors to the west to have driveway access to their garages. A trail connection would not be compatible with these existing driveways and garages.