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Variance Board Meeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, January 7, 2015 <br />Page 2 <br />At the request of Member Murphy, Mr. Paschke provided a definition of “canopy” trees <br />47 <br />within this context as deciduous or over-story trees per ordinance or leaf-bearing versus <br />48 <br />coniferous in nature. <br />49 <br />At the request of Member Murphy, under current ordinance, and as referenced in the <br />50 <br />narrative attached to the report (Attachment C), Mr. Paschke advised that no variance <br />51 <br />was indicated to provide a certain amount of glazing on the proposed building. <br />52 <br />Provided rationale was accepted that trees, whether on public or private property, were <br />53 <br />beneficial to the entire community and for the public good and were subject to code <br />54 <br />provisions, Chair Boguszewski questioned if in general this would allow for replacement <br />55 <br />trees elsewhere in the community, or payment in lieu of tree planting or preservation, if a <br />56 <br />lot was too small to handle the required number of replacement trees due to <br />57 <br />redevelopment. <br />58 <br />Mr. Paschke responded that, while such possibilities were still under discussion for <br />59 <br />potential inclusion in a revised ordinance, the current ordinance did not provide for such <br />60 <br />an allowance and any requirement for a developer to meet that requirement would be <br />61 <br />beyond the authority of the City and its staff. Under current code, Mr. Paschke clarified <br />62 <br />that a property owner was required to either meet current City Code, or seek a variance <br />63 <br />from that code. In the future, Mr. Paschke noted that a developer may be able to seek <br />64 <br />relief with one of the options identified by Chair Boguszewski, but at this time it was not <br />65 <br />applicable. <br />66 <br />Applicant Representatives: Ben Hartberg 1583 Berkley Avenue, St. Paul, MN, <br />(SP?), <br />67 <br />Landscape Architect with Tanner Architects, designing the Pizza Lucé facility <br />68 <br />Using a displayed illustration of proposed green space on the site, along with identifying <br />69 <br />existing easements along the south property line and along Snelling Avenue, as well as <br />70 <br />through the development site to facilitate utilities for the Room and Board building to the <br />71 <br />property’s north, Mr. Hartberg reviewed the difficulties faced in trying to meet landscaping <br />72 <br />and tree preservation/replacement ordinances. Mr. Hartberg addressed specific heritage <br />73 <br />trees and their conditions, and the developer’s intent to provide reasonable horticultural <br />74 <br />efforts to protect them. Mr. Hartberg noted the proposed underground stormwater <br />75 <br />management system covering the entire back area of the property, and the developer’s <br />76 <br />intent to preserve existing trees along Lincoln Drive and along Snelling Avenue in <br />77 <br />accordance with comprehensive plan guidelines. Mr. Hartberg advised that he anticipated <br />78 <br />considerable vegetation on the site even with easement restrictions. <br />79 <br />As the City considered revisions to its ordinance in the future, Mr. Hartberg suggested <br />80 <br />they make the tree preservation aspect, which does not currently consider scale, to avoid <br />81 <br />penalizing developers and take into consideration the lot size and what could realistically <br />82 <br />fit on the lot for trees and landscaping. In their specific situation, Mr. Hartberg advised <br />83 <br />that the penalty was so large without a variance and given the size of the lot, it was <br />84 <br />prohibitive for redevelopment. Mr. Hartberg referenced other communities that have <br />85 <br />provided options for park dedication or replanting at other locations, and suggested <br />86 <br />Roseville consider such options in the future. <br />87 <br />Ms. J. J. Haywood, 400 Second Avenue N, Minneapolis, MN 55401, co-owner of <br />88 <br />Roseville Pizza Lucé <br />89 <br />Ms. Haywood was present, but had no additional comment. <br />90 <br />Chair Boguszewski closed the Public Hearing at 5:49 p.m.; no one spoke for or against. <br />91 <br />MOTION <br />92 <br />Member Murphy moved, seconded by Member Cunningham to adopt Variance <br />93 <br />Board Resolution No. 111 (Attachment F) entitled, “A Resolution Approving <br />94 <br />Variances to Roseville City Code, Sections 1011.03C.1 (Parking Lot Landscape) <br />95 <br />and Section 1011.04F.1 and 2.A (Tree Preservation and Replacement in All <br />96 <br />Districts) at 2851 Snelling Avenue (PF15-001);” to allow redevelopment of the <br />97 <br />former Countryside Restaurant site into a new Pizza Lucé location, and based on <br />98 <br /> <br />