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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,August 24,2015 Page 26 c. Request for Approval of a Preliminary Plat at 2668—2688 Lexington Avenue (southeast corner of Lexington Avenue and Woodhill Drive, excluding the County Cycles Property) City Planner Thomas Paschke provided a brief summary of this request as de- tailed in the RCA dated August 24, 2015. Mr. Paschke noted that the developer intended to take the existing three lots it owned and make them into two lots; with Lot 2 defined as the city-owned parcel at 2668 Lexington Avenue. Mr. Paschke noted the additional of conditions h and g by the Planning Commission to those recommended by staff At the request of Councilmember McGehee, Mr. Paschke reviewed the grading and drainage plan as displayed and proposed location of parking stalls and prima- ry drop-off on the site. Councilmember McGehee opined that it seemed drainage and tree preservation would be better-served if the building was located and oriented elsewhere on the site that appeared barren. Councilmember McGehee questioned if the watershed district had yet approved this preliminary plat. Mr. Paschke advised that both the City Engineer and Rice Creek Watershed Dis- trict had been in consultation with the developer, and advised the rationale in placing the structures on site was due to previous fill on the site that was not con- ducive to building construction, but adequate for a parking lot to avoid substantial cost in removing that fill. Mr. Paschke further noted that the City's zoning ordi- nance and design standards required placement of the building front and setback facing Lexington Avenue as the primary street. While offering to yield the final decision to Community Development Director Bilotta, Councilmember McGehee wondered why the developer would want the building facing the parking lot across the street when it could face another way with a much better view, questioning what precluded them from that option to face Woodhill rather than Lexington Avenue and facing directly into the fire sta- tion. Community Development Director Bilotta concurred that the building would face the fire station at that location; however, he noted a key determination was which was considered the main street. Mr. Bilotta advised that representatives of Unit- ed, the developer, felt that Lexington Avenue was their key entrance point for this assisted living facility based on visibility and access points critical to the devel- opment; even beyond the issue with previous fill on the lot being the largest driv- er. At the request of Councilmember Willmus related to Condition D and vacating the existing sewer easement, Mr. Bilotta confirmed that the easement did not have sewer lines currently within that area, and the intent was to relocate sewer lines