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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, February 04, 2009 Page 2 Mr. Lloyd advised that, while the only points of concern identified by staff were the 42 adequacy of parking and the location of the trash container. Mr. Lloyd advised that the 43 library had been given permission to use some parking spaces in the Twin Lakes medical 44 Center parking lot, the temporary facility would have close to five (5) spaces per 1,000 45 square feet; and that staff opined this should be adequate on a temporary basis, and with 46 limited library services available during this basis. Mr. Lloyd noted that zoning 47 requirements would dictate location of the trash container within the building; however, 48 due to modifications required within the interior space, and due to the temporary use of 49 the facility, a trash container would need to be located in the rear of the building, and 50 should not have significant impact on adjoining properties. 51 Mr. Lloyd noted that the applicant intended identifying signs on the building, and other 52 directional signage on site, as permitted by City Code and that could be accommodated 53 with a typical sign permit application. Mr. Lloyd noted that a freestanding sign, not 54 exceeding 100 square feet, would also be allowed; however, space constraints along 55 County Road C right-of-way suggested to staff that installing the freestanding sign just 56 outside the southwestern corner of the parking lot could be allowed. 57 Mr. Lloyd noted that the library would work with staff on the best location for a drop box for 58 book returns and proposed directional signage for such purpose on the property, was 59 proposed for the rear of the building, along with recycling containers in the rear of the 60 building. 61 Mr. Lloyd noted that sale of coffee and prepackaged food was also identified in the 62 application as a desired component of the Interim Use, similar to a limited version of the 63 Dunn Brothers Café in their permanent library location, and staff was amenable to that as 64 part of this proposal. 65 Mr. Lloyd suggested that the Interim Use be approved through 2010, to accommodate 66 potential construction delays at the permanent library site. 67 Discussion included location and orientation of the freestanding sign; inclusion of the 68 parking agreement with Twin Lakes Medical Center, with staff suggesting that this 69 agreement could be included in the packet going before the City Council; adequacy of 70 parking on site, in addition to those designated at the Medical Center, and the need for 71 monitoring to ensure no further mitigation was called for; and snow storage at the Medical 72 Center. 73 Staff recommended APPROVAL of the proposed Interim Use of the existing building at 74 2680 Arthur Street as a temporary library facility; based on the comments and findings of 75 Sections 5 and 6; and the conditions of Section 7 of the project report dated February 4, 76 2009. 77 Applicant Representatives, Lynn Wyman, Ramsey County Library Board and Fred 78 Shank, Ramsey County Property Management 79 Ms. Wyman spoke to the parking space concerns, opining that the library anticipated 80 significantly less business in the temporary location than for normal business operations, 81 noting the permanent library location sees approximately 35% of its business from St. 82 Paul and Minneapolis, and anticipated that those patrons would visit other library locations 83 closer to them than to drive further north to the temporary location during the construction 84 project. Ms. Wyman also noted that the library’s temporary location would not provide for 85 any meeting room space that would also significantly reduce parking needs. 86 Discussion among Ms. Wyman and Commissioners included how much of the collection 87 would be housed at this location, estimated at 75% as their goal; vending or cart service 88 by Dunn Brothers at the temporary site, providing for limited beverage service and some 89 prepackaged foods, with no drive through. 90