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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, August 06, 2008 c. PLANNING FILE 08-030 Request for approval of a COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT to change the land use designation of vacant properties contiguous to the north side of the library site from medium-density residential to civic uses and a GENERAL CONCEPT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT to allow the expansion of the Ramsey County Library facility at 2180 Hamline Avenue Chair Bakeman opened the Public Hearing for Planning File 08-030; and reviewed the Public Hearing process. City Planner Thomas Paschke reviewed staff’s analysis of the request by the Ramsey County Library to expand their current library site and facility at 2180 Hamline Avenue, and to change the current land use designation from Medium Density Residential to Institutional, and a General Concept proposal to add approximately 30,300 square feet to the existing 43,400 square feet, the majority of which will be through adding a second story. Mr. Paschke noted that the applicant was proposing the additional of an additional 121 parking spaces through the reconfiguration of the existing parking lot on the north and expanded parking on the north. Mr. Paschke advised that the original structure and site improvements were constructed in 1993 as a permitted use within the Single Family Residential zone, with Dunn Brothers Coffee Shop and drive through on the south side of the building built via a Planed unit Development (PUD) in 1996. Mr. Paschke advised that seven (7) single-family lots have been acquired or were previously owned by Ramsey County on the north side of the library site, having an existing land use designation of Medium Density Residential that would not support a library. Mr. Paschke therefore advised that this proposal was to change the seven (7) lots to be consistent with the existing library use, from a Medium Density to Institutional designation. Mr. Paschke further noted that the applicant intended to modify/enhance the south parking area through the creation of a separate drive-thru window for the coffee shop; elimination of the book return/drop-off area; removal of 57 on-site parking spaces to be replaced with a children’s reading garden and landscaped open space; elimination of twenty (20) on-site parking spaces replaced with a sidewalk and landscaping; and the addition of a rainwater garden, with an overall increase in on-site parking from 213 to 334 spaces, all of which will occur on the north portion of the library site. In order to accommodate the necessary parking, 80 of the 110 trees on the newly- acquired property will be removed to make way for the expanded parking lot, with some designated for removal and some designated for preservation. Staff recommended APPROVAL of the request for a Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designation change from current Medium Density Residential designation to Institutional, Planned Unit Development with an underlying zoning of B-1 (Limited Business District) to more effectively address the parcel’s use and to allow for consistency with corresponding dimensional requirements; and APPROVAL of the request for a GENERAL CONCEPT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT for the Ramsey County Library to allow the proposed library expansion at 2180 Hamline Avenue; based on the comments and findings outlined in Sections 5 – 8, and subject to the conditions detailed in Section 9 of the staff report dated August 6, 2008. Discussion included existing underlying zoning under the existing Comprehensive Plan and the updated Plan in process; use of the site, regional draw, and impact to the area; identification of the conversation easement indicated on the site plan; bicycle parking and security on site; and possible improvements to the transit stop, in cooperation with Metropolitan Transit, for public safety and landscaping amenities for overall aesthetics of the site and area. Page 4 of 6