10-17-1994 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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The pi>st office has ne\er had a formal parking lot, and its customers, the raajorin- of which are Cr>’stal Bay area residents, have cither w alked up or parked haphazardly on the shoulder in front of the building. The Public Works Department is pn>ps>sing to coastruct a h>mial parking lot with a drive-through letter drop and eliminate parking on the slKHikkr. The standards for a parking lot in the RR-IB District require a 50 ’ from setback. Since the existing building is totally within the 50 ’ front yard, aral its only public entrance is on the from of the building, a contorming parking lot would have to be directly west ami to the rear of the building and waxild be inconvernem for tte public. Funher, such parking lot would severely encroach into the existing Ciystal Bay park and pla\ground area. An ingress egress driveway would ha\e to cross the from yard in order to reach such a parking lot. PropiKed Layout and Construction Please review the site plan. Exhibit D. The proposed parking lot will be on the south side of the building and provide five parking stalls plus a handicapped stall. A mail drop drive through is proposed with the northerly curb cut as entrance aiKj southerly curb cut as exit. It is anticipated that the parking lot will consist of of gravel base and 3" of bituminous surface. It is intended to be surfaced up to the building w ith concrete curbs at the head of each stall. The intent is to leave a 5’ walkway adjacent to the south side of the building. The p.irking lot w ill be striped, and it is anticipated that the apnm in front of the building along County Road I4b will be posted no parking. The informal gravel pat king area on the nonh side of the building will be reverted to crass. Note that while the code would require a minimum ten space parking lot for a new post office building, history has shown it is rare to see more than two or three cars at the Cry stal Bay Post Office at one time. Use of the post office is not anticipated to increase significantly. Impact on Neighboring Propertie.s At its priiposed location, the par ’ ing lot will have minimal impact on the existing Crystal Bay plaviiround. The proposed parking lot is 34’ from the side lot line with the adjacent residence to the south. There is existing screening south of the parking lot. site which is appropriate as a buffer to the neighboring property. Including Only Lots 1. 2 and 3 south of the closed Prospect Avenue, hardcover in the 500- 1,000 ’ zone will increase from 5.6% to 12%, where 35% would be allowed. This area is relatively fiat and drains generally eastward to the Dakota Rail right-of-way and then northward eventually to a wetland in the Fox Mill area. No special drainage considerations are anticipated to be needed at this time. Staff Recommendation Please review the description of hardship and unusual property conditions. If Plannmg Commission agrees that the proposed parking lot location is acceptable, then a recommendation for front setback variance approval would be appropriate. Planning Commission should note any