PC Packet 07-17-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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elevator bays, or rather all the unusable space. Staff prepared the following parking analysis using the usable square footages per floor(but not deducting 10%): 1st floor= 3,966 SF 2nd floor=4,374 SF 3rd floor= 3,925 SF 4th floor= 3,133 SF Total = 15,378 SF/200 SF= 77 stalls As completed, the underground parking garage contains 45 parking stalls and surface parking lot contains 32 parking stalls for a total of 77 off-street parking stalls. Thus, the conversion of the fourth floor from residential to office will meet the off-street parking requirements of Zoning Code Section 11-030. Special Use Permit Criteria Section 6-550 outlines the following Special Use permit standards in an MX District. Staff evaluated the proposed amendment as follows (staff responses in italics): (1) All buildings that are located on sites adjacent to Long Lake Regional Park shall take advantage of the views to Long Lake and shall provide site improvements that compliment the natural features of Long Lake Regional Park. The proposed amendment will not impact the existing building's placement on the lot. The building was placed in a manner that best fits with the topography of the area and takes advantage of views of Rush Lake and Long Lake Regional Park The fourth floor, which would be converted to office, has spectacular views. (2) All developments shall provide pedestrian linkages to Long Lake Regional Park and neighboring developments for residents, employees, and shoppers, and provide integrated parking and transit elements whenever practical. The existing site provides pedestrian linkages to the existing trail system of Long Lake Regional Park, as well as the regional trail following Highway 96 east into Arden Hills. Trail linkages provide residents, employees, and shoppers access to the south, north, and east. The proposed amendment will not impact this system. (3) All uses shall be complementary or integrated and buildings shall be related or connected in accordance with the vision of the adopted Highway 8 Corridor Study. While the proposed amendment eliminates the mixed use concept within the building, mixed uses remain within the Old Highway 8 Corridor, including retail, residential, and office. Staff has heard from many developers that mixed use concepts within a building are difficult to develop and market to potential users. Thus, staff is not surprised of the amendment request to eliminate this component. (4) All buildings and building sites shall be designed to encourage social interchange and a sense of community, provide sufficient residential amenities, and mitigate any adverse impacts of business and industrial uses on residential uses.