12-11-2000 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting December 11, 2000 10 14. #264012641 Orono Ambar, LLC, 2060 Wayzata Boulevard —P. U.D./ • Subdivision/Rezoning /Commercial Site Plan Reviews — Continued proposed east parcel). The intended uses of the properties are a 2 and 3 -story 62 unit senior housing project and a 23,000 s.£ office building. Weinberger explained that since the last public meeting, the developer had changed the plan by sliding the building further to the south, creating a 56 foot setback between the building and rear property line. He had also lowered one half of the building by 7 feet. He removed the third story on the eastern third of the building. Mr. Dunbar moved the service road and rearranged the parking so that traffic wouldn't have to pass directly through the lot, also parking along the south side of the road had been removed. The service road would continue on to the office parking, and through to the property line in order to allow future access to Brimhall Road. Mayor Jabbour asked Mr. Dunbar to summarize the project's history. He stated that he came in over the summer with a concept to put retail on the first floor and senior housing above it. The proposed building was too high, so he broke the project apart offering a retail /office site separate from the housing site. He tried to preserve a hill between the two sites, thereby preserving vegetation. To minimize the impact on the neighbors to the north, he moved the housing to the south and has reduced the parking. He lowered the height on the northeast wing to 2 stories, reducing the housing to 62 units. He also shortened the clock tower. He moved the office building 5 feet to the west and adjusted. the elevator to eliminate variances. He raised the foundation of the senior housing 4 feet • on the east side to keep the natural vegetation and moved the garage entrance to the south side so neighbors on the east wouldn't see cars coming and going from the garage. He chose similar building materials for the housing unit and the office building so they will be compatible. Dr. Berg, of 2021 Sugarwoods Drive, stated that the homeowners association has discussed the project, and they approve of the senior housing. They are concerned that the project is too big and too dense with about 17 people per acre. He submitted a petition stating that the neighbors feel the project is too big. Mayor Jabbour stated that the housing project needs enough density to justify the expense. Orono as a community needs senior housing. He asked the neighbors to realize that if the site is developed non - residential the parking requirements would eliminate all existing trees on the site. He asked the neighbors to offer suggestions instead of simply stating their complaints. Sansevere reminded the neighbors that Mr. Dunbar dropped his housing plan from 70 to 62 units and dropped one wing from 3 to 2 stories in order to accommodate the neighbors. Ron Glover, of 2004 Sugarwoods Drive, asked if there was a solution to be found between the existing plan and the worst possible scenario. Mayor Jabbour stated that a housing project will produce minimal traffic and parking