03-13-2017 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday March 13,2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 12. #17-3903 ALEX UGORETS,2520 SHADYWOOD ROAD,SKETCH PLAN—Continued- Goodrum stated the wetlands for this property are on the edge of the site so it would only be a small percentage. Goodrum stated he would estimate it at under 10 percent. Discussions have been had with the Watershed District and they were able to walk the property. Goodrum indicated they will be meeting the Watershed District's requirements and that they were pleased with the approach being taken to the property. Goodrum indicated they also met with Hennepin County and they looked at the best access point for the site. Hennepin County indicated they were fine with combining access to this site with the Freshwater site. Goodrum stated based on their experience,the development would have a very small impact to the flow of traffic but that they are prepared to submit a formal traffic study. Goodrum stated when they were designing the sketch plan,they wanted this building to be complementary to the Freshwater building because they do not want it to have a negative impact to the office building. Being proposed are similar type features to the Freshwater building,especially as it relates to the height. The front of the Freshwater building is 30 feet,the height of this building is 30 feet in the front, and the penthouse steps up another nine feet in the back corner on the far side of the property. Goodrum stated the purpose of the penthouse is to provide beautiful views,meet market demand, and to match the height of the Freshwater building,which is 54 feet tall from the back. Goodrum indicated they used the Freshwater building to match this building and that it will have the same visual impact as the Freshwater building. As you move south past the building,the penthouse is stepped down and the building goes down to 31 feet. Goodrum indicated that is a transitional area from the Freshwater into the residential area. Goodrum stated the reason for that height is because the ground slopes 12 feet down into the wetland area. Goodrum commented it makes more sense to use the natural topography and having the proposed elevation than it would to haul in a bunch of fill. The lowest floor is the exposed parking garage,which will have screening around it. Goodrum stated they could bring in a bunch of dirt to cover the bottom two stories but that would result in hauling a lot of dirt into the site and does not work with the natural topography. Goodrum stated they are hoping the height is something the City will not consider to be a negative impact, especially since that corner of the proposed building matches the height of the Freshwater building. Goodrum noted the building is also set back from the road to avoid creating a tunnel effect. In addition,a berm will be constructed as well as landscaping to help block headlights and to help screen the building. Goodrum commented they spent a considerable amount of time fitting the building on the property and have it conform to the natural topography. Seals asked if there is a potential to put a right-turn lane into this property. Barnhart stated the County would likely object to that. In addition,the wetland is also fairly close to that area,which is where some separation would be required. Barnhart noted there is a right-in/right-out at the north end of the parking lot. Hennepin County would like to get rid of that at some point but at this time they are willing to accept that. Page 17 of 32