06-20-2006 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Approved more parking stalls, such as blocking off an existing access to the parking lot and relocating the dumpster enclosure. This building is part of the Main Street Village development, which consists of the retail building in question, a vacant site to the direct north, another office/retail building at the corner of 5th Avenue NW and 6th Street NW, a multi-family housing complex, and a large office building that backs up against the existing railroad tracks. The entire development strived to achieve a pedestrian-oriented environment, reflected in the site design, and choice of building materials, architectural details, and extensive landscaping. Baker inquired if the development had eliminated some parking stalls when the two main buildings were connected together. Gundlach replied that she does not know the answer to that question. Mann inquired how many feet the new access to County Road E2 is from Main Street. Gundlach replied that the Engineer analyzed the plan, she knows that it's less than fifty feet, although very close, and that they tried to move the curb cut a little farther east to make it work, but it couldn't be moved. O'Brien asked if the fifty foot of separation is from curb to curb or center line to center line. Gundlach replied that the code is not clear but the Engineer measured from both spots and neither area meets the requirements. O'Brien replied that according to the scale on the site plan it appears that there is forty-two feet in between the two curbs and if it is from the center lines, it would exceed the fifty foot requirement. O'Brien added that on the staff recommended site plan 3, the turn around will exasperate the stacking problem. Gundlach replied that Public Safety and Engineering had considered that, but they did want to create a negative impact on the exterior of the site in the public road ways, which staff thought would happen even if it was a right turn only exit. She added that if they want to add a drive- thru the staff would like them to contain any traffic problems within their property and not in the public road ways. O'Keefe asked if staff had looked at making the two entrances a one way, the north entrance an in only and the southern entrance an exit only, to help alleviate the stacking problem. Gundlach replied that topic had not been discussed; the Fire Marshall had suggested that directional signs at the southern entrance may help. O'Keefe replied that the development could see how the stacking is working out and if there is a problem, they could easily implement the one way signs. John Ordway, Pratt-Ordway Properties, stated that Limu Coffee has been operational for five years at the old Apache Plaza. That location had a similar stacking situation and has never had a problem; she normally doesn't have more than three cars in line at a time. He added that a majority of her drive thru business happens between seven and nine o'clock in the morning,when the other businesses are not yet open. Ordway stated that they may be able to slide the exit on to County Rd E2 east a bit more, noting that there is a sidewalk to an emergency exit but the side walk could be eliminated, which may gain the drive another four to five feet. While it still wouldn't reach the fifty feet, it would be close and they would agree to the right turn only onto County Road E2. C:ADocuments and Settings\igocpeALocal Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK28\06-20-2006(3).doe Page 6 of 15