02-20-2018 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, January 16, 2018 6:30 o'clock p.m. of Kelley Parkway, and Staff would recommend that those two curb cuts be aligned. Internal circulation is proposed to be provided by a paved driveway along the west side of the building for parking and a loop driveway in front of the building. The Fire Marshal will need to verify fire access is maintained as required by Fire Code. Parking as depicted includes 54 surface stalls and 77 underground stalls. This will need to be verified but the number of spaces appears to exceed the number of required spaces. The Planning Commission should discuss whether there is justification for the necessary CMP amendment and rezoning to allow the guiding of this property to be converted from commercial office to residential. Further, the Planning Commission should discuss whether they are comfortable with the proposed density of the development and whether this development should be required to meet the RPUD standard 10 percent private recreation space. Staff recommends that a 10 -foot trail easement be retained along the south boundary of the property. The Planning Commission should also discuss whether buffering from Wayzata Boulevard should be provided. Barnhart stated the goal of the review is to provide the developer with an overview of the pertinent City ordinances and how they affect the proposed plat as well as to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal. As a sketch plan review, any comments or suggestions to the applicants are nonbinding but would help assist the developer in moving forward. Thiesse asked whether the corner lot has enough parking. Barnhart indicated he does not know the answer to that question but that his belief is that it does. For this building 112 spaces are required, assuming 56 units. The applicant is showing a total of 131 parking stalls between the surface and underground stalls, which would be more than enough even if the shared parking was eliminated from the calculation. Barnhart stated in lieu of the 10 percent private recreation area, the applicant could pay a park dedication fee. Lemke asked if the City ever receives any recommendations or pushback from the Metropolitan Council on affordable housing. Barnhart stated the Metropolitan Council has published recommendations for the City to meet affordable housing goals and that they encourage the City to look for opportunities for affordable housing. The Metropolitan Council cannot require the City to actually provide the financial assistance necessary to make it affordable. Neil Weber, Architect, stated he would like to highlight a few things. As it relates to the parking, the shared parking already exists and will not be built by them. Weber stated in their view the medical building will not need that parking late in the afternoon and on the weekends. Weber stated they are showing 1.5 parking stalls inside the building. Weber stated when this building is compared to the condominium project, the condominium units are averaging 1,800 square feet per unit and these units are a little more than half the size. In addition, the Page 14 of 17