04-26-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 12, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 10 of 15 17. LA21-000017 – Joseph & Sara Thull, 480 Big Island, Permit for Dock City on ROW (Bay Place) – Continued Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to table LA21-000017 – Joseph & Sara Thull, 480 Big Island, Permit for Dock City on ROW (Bay Place) until the next City Council meeting. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. 18. LA20-000053 – Dale Richardson o/b/o CBS MN Properties, LLC, 2060 Wayzata Blvd W, Sketch Plan Dale Richardson, Applicant, was present. Barnhart presented a summary packet of information. Dale Richardson is requesting initial sketch plan feedback on the proposed zone change to an R-PUD zoning district. He proposes to build a new 48 unit market-rate apartment building just west of Orono Woods on Wayzata Boulevard. The proposed building would be three stories of apartments and one level of parking, most of which is underground. During the review of the concept plan, Staff and the Planning Commission identified several areas for future discussion or waivers. He noted in the R-PUD zoning district waivers can be approved, the idea being flexibility in the requirements and in exchange they receive something they are looking for as a City that maybe does not quite fit the code. Things identified by Staff and Planning Commission included the site size, the R-PUD zoning district requires a five acre minimum, although there are a number of considerations/exemptions the Council can approve. One is if the project is a transitional project, to the west is a gas station and warehouse, to the east is an apartment building, and to the north is single family residential. The Council could consider this a transition between high-active gas station and low density residential. The project is either 35 feet or 41 feet in height based on the defined height and there is some debate how the site height is calculated. The 35 feet is based on pre-development levels of grading. This property was approved as an office/townhome project around 2005-2007. The property was graded to accommodate those walkout office buildings; only one of those buildings was built although another foundation was poured but activity did not continue. Using the pre-development grading (before 2007- 2008) the calculation would be 35 feet. Right now it is 41 feet so it is higher than what the Council has historically allowed from a building-height standpoint, which has been 30 feet. Other Planning Commission conversations included the roof style, this rendering shows a flat roof building and the R- PUD zoning district requires an architectural pitched roof. There has been some change in what is residential between now and when the R-PUD zoning district was drafted as they are now seeing more flat roofs. The Planning Commission did not seem too opposed to the height increase if it was a flat roof structure. If there are modifications to the height allowed, they will have to provide some kind of a waiver from a setback standpoint. The building meets the minimum setback requirements based on the zoning district from the north and the east, however, there is also a stipulation that in no case shall the setback be less than the height of the building. If the building is determined to be 41 feet they will need to see a 41 foot setback, primarily from the east. Finally, the R-PUD zoning district requires a 10% of gross land area for private recreation, usually a combination of trails, play area, open space. This project shows a dog run area, an outdoor patio/grill area, and trails to link those amenities. It also shows 2 rooftop deck facilities which would be unique for Orono. Barnhart pointed out this is not looking like a subdivision so there will not be any park dedication collected as part of the project. The Planning 18.