11-20-1995 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Zoning File #2085 November 17,1995 Page 3 Having acquired the Gayles site and the Crystal Bay Service site in 1994, the DNR proceeded v\ith resolving fuel contamination issues at those sites, and in 1995 acquired the Dunn and Sprague properties to the east In the fall of 1995, buildings uerc removed from the acquired properties. On October 6, 1995, the Lake Use Committee met with the DNR to review the status of the project as well as continue discussions on site planning issues, resulting in the current "preliminary site plan" being submitted for Cit}' and public comment prior to expected commencement of construction in the spring of 1996. Zoning Issues While the DNR is not subject to local zoning ordinances, the DNR has worked closely with the City on site design, in order to create an access that is functional yet remaining sensitive to the natural environment as well as the residential nature of surrounding areas. The site has been zoned for commercial use since 1957, although that portion on the south side of North Shore Drive is zoned residential. Less than 1% of the City's land area, and only 2.2% of Orono’s Lake Minnetonka shoreline, is zoned for commercial uses. The remainder is zoned for single family residential use. During the reviewr process to date, the DNR was requested by the Lake Use Committee to be especially sensitive to specific City concerns in the redevelopment of this site: Minimiyatinn of hardcover. While the Gayles Marina and Crystal Bay Service sites were almost totally covered with hard surface, the adjacent residential lots were relatively low in hardcover. Overall, existing hardcover in the 0-75’ zone was 67.9%, where the B-2 zoning standards allow no hardcover. In the 75-250' zone, overall pre-existing hardcover was 66.1%, where the standard is 25%. The DNR proposal would reduce 0-75’ hardcover from 67.9% to 23.5%, while resulting in a slight increase from 66.1% to 69.7% in the 75-250 zone. Including both zones, total site hardcover decreases from 66.8% to 52.6%. f .nkp«;hnre setback. The B-2 zoning standards require 75’ setback for structures as well as hardcover. The intent is to create a 75’ "buffer zone’’ at the lakeshore. The westerly 70% of the site for many years has had virtually no buffer, with gravel parking e.xtended virtually »o the shoreline. The proposal results in parking lot setbacks ranging from 40-70’ or more from the shoreline, with grass buffer strips proposed for treatment of parking lot runoff before it reaches the lake. These buffer areas also provide a location for sigmflcant landscaping to occur.I 1