pf_03096 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

3.4 The existing 10-space parking lot along the east side of the site would no longer be used for parking. Adequate parking (approximately 118 spaces) is available along the west side of the building. The applicants indicate that the peak sales and traffic seasons are the spring and fall planting seasons when over 60% of the business occurs on Saturdays and Sundays. No winter display, other than Christmas trees and materials, is anticipated. 3.5 The applicant must identify on-site improvements such as cart storage location and sales area lighting in the final plans. The proposed carts are to be large wheel. flat bed carts that would be stored inside either the building or the fenced areas. Outdoor speakers are not proposed for this project; employees use pagers and an intercom system. 3.6 The applicant proposes a new pylon sign face to the existing pole sign at the north east corner of the site. Signage, conforming to the city sign code, will also be added to the east and north faces of the building (see the building sketch plan). Details of sign age along the west entrance have not been completed to date. 3.7 The applicant proposes to place new wTought iron fence (in lieu of wood or cyclone fence) along the north and east property lines adjacent to the building. The fence lines would be set back 1 foot from all property lines. The fence is proposed to be 6 feet in height instead of 4 feet to provide security and safety for exterior sales/display/storage. The fence height requires a variance to the city fence requirements, Section 1012.02B2. 3.8 Trash will be placed in an trash enclosure with a roof, constructed of a rock face block material, similar in color to the material on the building. The trash enclosure will be placed adjacent to the southwest corner of the building. 3.9 The homes to the west adjoining this parcel are 1,000 to 1,200 s.f. ramblers, built during the mid 1950's on lots of approximately 10,000 sJ. They are buffered by a green strip on the east side of the property line, an 8 foot wooden fence, and a 60 foot right-of-way (unbuilt road) before the first adjacent house. The applicant proposes additional landscaping where possible along the west property line. 3.10 SEH, the city traffic consultant reviewed plans for this project. According to SEH, the proposed garden center will generate 400-500 vehicle trips to or from the center per day; a Saturday in spring may have even more trips. MnDOT has indicated that it has no immediate plans to close the median along Snelling Avenue. Closing the median would eliminate 7 out bound (north) left turn trips in the peak pm hour. There will be 9 additional trips on Oakcrest with 15 trips on a weekend entering or leaving the site from Oakcrest. Staff and consultants estimate that at least 75 percent of the traffic would use the Snelling Avenue entrance. The traffic consultant's report is attached to this Request for Council Action. The applicant suggests that the project traffic volume is too high. He compares this site to a similar sized store in New Hope where peak daily traffic is approximately 250 vehicle trips per day. Pf.3096 - RCA (02-22-99) - Page 3 of6