11-14-1994 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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, i • * > The post office luis never had a formal parking lot, and its customers, the majority ot which are Crystal Bay area residents, have either walked up or parked haphazardly on the shoulder in front of the building. The Public Works Department is proposing to construct a formal parking lot with a drive-through letter drop and eliminate parking on the shoulder. The standards for a parking lot in the RR-IB District require a 50’ front setback. Since the existing building is totally within the 50’ front yard, and its only public entrance is on the front of the build ine, a conforming parking lot would have to be directly west and to the rear of the building and would be inconvenient for the public. Funher. such parking lot would severely encroach into the existing Crystal Bay park and playground area. An ingress/egress driveway would have to cross the front yard in order to reach such a parking lot. Proposed 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 and southerly curb cut as exit. It is anticipated that the parking lot will consist of 8" of gravel base and 3" of biniminous surface. It is intended to be surfaced up to the building with 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 parking lot will be striped, and it is anticipated that the apron in front of the building along County Road 146 will be posted no parking. The informal gravel parking area on the north side of the building will be reverted to grass. 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 Crystal Bay Post Office at one time. Use of the post office is not anticipated to increase significantly. Impact on Neighboring Properties At its proposed location, the parking lot will have minimal impact on the existing Crystal Bay playground. 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 flat and drains generally eastward to the Dakota Rail right-of-way and then northwara eventually to a wetland in the Fox Hill area. No special drainage considerations are anticipated to be needed at this time. Staff Reconunendation Please review the description of hardship and unusual property conditions. If Planning 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