Agenda Packets - Planning Commission - Packet 5/19/2025

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FILE # LA25-000016 21 April 2025 Page 3 of 5 3) Adequately served by police, fire, roads, and stormwater management: The property meets this standard. 4) Provided with an adequate water supply and sewage disposal system: The property meets this standard. 5) Not expected to generate excessive demand for public services at public cost: This proposal is not anticipated to impact public services. 6) Compatible with the surrounding area as the area is used both presently and as it is planned to be used in the future: The proposal to add a larger, replacement retaining wall system on the slope is not compatible with the surrounding area or the city’s goals for a natural lakeshore aesthetic. This criterion is not met. 7) Consistent with the character of the surrounding area, unless a change of character is called for in the community management plan: The installation of new retaining walls to support a lake access stair and tramway is consistent with the character of the surrounding area. However, City Code Section 78-1285 stipulates that “stairways, lifts and landings must be located in the most visually inconspicuous portions of lots, as viewed from the surface of the public water, assuming summer, leaf-on conditions, whenever practical”. The current design does not permit screening. This criterion is not met. 8) Compatible with the character of buildings and site improvements in the surrounding area, unless a change of character is called for in the community management plan: The applicant has not provided documentation showing the existing slope is failing. The retaining walls do not appear to be the minimal size and placement necessary to accommodate the proposed lake access stairs and tramway. This criterion is not met. 9) Not expected to substantially impair the use and enjoyment of the property in the area or have a materially adverse impact on the property values in the area when compared to the impairment or impact of generally permitted uses: The improvements to the lakeshore with the proposed retaining walls and lake access should not adversely impact other properties in the neighborhood. This criterion is met. 10) Provided with screening and buffering adequate to mitigate undesirable views and activities likely to disturb surrounding uses: The applicant has not provided a landscape plan to show how the proposed walls will be screened when viewed from the lake, however, they have stated they would provide overhanging plantings, sedum between boulders and plantings at the base of the walls to provide screening. However, the straight design of the walls down the slope will be more visually impactful than a meandered stair system. This screening method may mitigate potential impacts from some of the walls; but the two (2) foot wide walls in parallel to the stairs will have a greater visual impact. This criterion is not met. 11) Not create a nuisance which generates smoke, noise, glare, vibration, odors, fumes, dust, electrical interference, general unsightliness, or other means: The proposal is not anticipated to create a nuisance. 11