07-26-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, July 12, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 6 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT 15. LA21-000042 – Mohegan Hansen Arch o/b/o CBS MN Properties, LLC, 2060 Wayzata Blvd West, Master Development Plan Approval, Zone Change, and Preliminary Plat Staff presented a summary packet of information. Barnhart said the Applicant Mohegan Hansen is working on behalf of the owner Dale Richardson, who is requesting Preliminary Plat, Master Development Plan, and Zone Change approval to construct a 48-unit apartment building. This project is fairly consistent with the sketch plan the Council saw a few months ago with a few updates and changes. The project will require a Comprehensive Plan amendment because the density is lower than is guided for the project; Barnhart noted the City Council has already directed Staff to initiate that change and they are in the process to create a new land-use district for this property that would allow dropping the density below 20 units/acre as it came in at 18 units/acre. The project includes the creation of a 3-story building with one level of underground parking. This is a market rate project and has not been assisted financially. Units are a mix of 1-3 bedrooms with an exercise room, community room, and a rooftop deck on the south side of the building. It is a flat roof building which the Council seemed to support, and the R-PUD requirements suggest a pitched residential-style roof; however this allows the height without increasing a lot of mass. The main issue identified by Staff was the height of the building. The project came in at 30 feet 9 inches and the plans show 31 feet but the Applicant has agreed to reduce the height of each floor by one inch to get to 30 feet 9 inches. The Planning Commission reviewed this project at the June meeting and at the public hearing during that meeting they heard 3 primary concerns. First, neighbors to the north/northeast had concerns with the proposed patio in the northeast corner of the project as they felt that due the noise and general impact the patio should be relocated. Barnhart understands that the Applicant met with the neighboring property owners since that meeting and has prepared a sketch relocating that patio further south. Second, a need or desire for some fencing along the north property line to prevent trespassing into the single-family residential neighborhood. Third, the Planning Commission suggested that the height be kept to 30 feet 0 inches. Staff recommends approval subject to the five conditions including Met Council approval, Watershed District, City Engineer, and Fire Department approval, and approval of the Final Plat Development Agreement. Planning Commission also suggested the height no higher than 30 feet, relocating the patio from the northeast corner, and fencing along the north property line. Staff requests direction on a formal resolution and will come back with a resolution for either approval, denial, or any changes the City Council would like to see. Printup read about the fence on the north side and plantings; he asked if that comes at this stage or later on. Barnhart said it is not uncommon for the landscaping plan to be adjusted a bit as final grades and utility work is done, but if the Council decides to add additional landscaping for a screening perspective, they can direct that at this stage. Regarding fencing, they would like to see that detail as part of the final development package. Todd Mohegan, Mohegan Hansen Architectural Group, 1000 Twelve Oaks Center Drive, Suite 200, Wayzata, said the Planning Commission had issues with the 30 foot 9 inches and they settled on that number from comments from the City Council during the Sketch Plan. The height for the aesthetics of the units is critical and anything that can help with that would be appreciated. Mayor Walsh asked to hear more about the patio, plantings, and a recap of the meeting with neighbors.