04-15-2019 Planning Commission Packet

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FILE#LA19-000025 April 15,2019 Page 4 of 7 IUP Recommendation. Staff supports the mitigation of the landfill, provided that response is supported by the MPCA. Staff recommends approval of the IUP,subject to approval or support of the Response Action Plan by the MPCA. Preliminary Plat,Zone Change,and Site Plan Analysis This proposal, with 244 units in two buildings, represents the single largest housing project in the City of Orono in many years. The Planning Commission should not forward the application to the City Council until it is comfortable in all aspects with the project. Comprehensive Plan density. The subject parcel is guided for high density residential (20-25 units per acre)in the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan. While the plans show a density greater than what was proposed at the sketch plan (19.8 units per acre), the density is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The proposed density is 24.9 units per acre. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan has not yet been adopted by the City Council. This preliminary plat, zone change, and site plan cannot be approved until the Council has adopted the Plan. Roads/Access. Access to this site is via a public road that was originally anticipated for Eisinger Meadows, the adjacent single family development. The plans do not show a cul de sac at the end of this road. A cul de sac, meeting city code standards, should be added to the plans. As is proposed,turn around opportunities only exist within the private parking lot. Hennepin County has reviewed the proposed location of the road as it intersects with County Rd 112. Their initial comments are attached as Exhibit J. Most of their comments reference the Eisinger Meadows project, though the comment on the turn lanes applies to this project. Staff recommends that any motion of approval include a condition that all County comments are satisfied. Building height. The building height was a major issue at the sketch plan level. While the facade of the building measures 30 feet from first floor to midway between the peak and the eave, due to the cuffing of the building into the existing grade, the defined height is actually 24.7 feet. The building height standard is met. Landscaping. A Landscaping plan has been submitted. The RPUD standards require a specific amount of landscaping, based on the greater of the following: 1 tree per 1000 sq. ft. of building footprint, or 1 tree per 40 feet of lot perimeter, whichever is greater, and based on the following table. Minimum Tree and Shrub Requirements Vegetation Type Size Quantity Overstory 2.5-inch bb One tree per 1,000 gross square feet of building footprint deciduous trees (Caliper) area or one tree per 40 lineal feet of site perimeter, whichever is greater. Coniferous trees 6-foot height Minimum of 30 percent of required overstory trees must bb be coniferous Understory shrubs 3-gal. potted or One shrub per 300 gross square feet of building footprint 18-inch area or one shrub per 30 lineal feet of site perimeter, whichever is greater.