2017.05.16 Planning - Laserfiche WebLink

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A single user, TUV SUD will occupy the site. (6) Architectural styling shall not be the sole basis for denial of a planned unit development. Staff finds the architectural styling to be compatible with the surrounding area and with several of the following architectural guidelines of the NWQ Framework Plan, which was adopted in 2005 in advance of the NBE, New Brighton Exchange zoning district: • Building Placement – while not directly at the corner, attention is paid to orient the building to follow the frontages of 14th ST NW and Northwest Parkway. • Expressive Front Entry – the applicant has created a larger glass expanse at the NW corner of the building near the front entry as well as a prominent blue feature wall that runs perpendicular to the façade. • Interior Courtyard – the applicant has included an outdoor plaza area at the NW corner of the building, adding a pedestrian presence to the exterior of the site. (7) The maximum gross floor area for the sum of all buildings in a project shall not exceed 45 percent of the total land area in the planned unit development. For purposes of determining compliance with this provision, the first two aboveground floors of structures used exclusively for parking of vehicles shall not be included as part of the gross floor area of the development. Subject to approval of the City Council, the gross floor area may be increased for any new Planned Unit Development that is located in the area known as the Northwest Quadrant project area, as defined by the Northwest Quadrant Framework Plan approved by the City Council. This standard is met. The proposed gross floor area is 20% (36,500 SF of building area / 182,477 SF of lot area). When including the future expansion space of 12,200 SF, the F.A.R. would consist of 27%, well below the 45% maximum established under this standard. (8) All buildings shall observe the following setbacks unless otherwise specified by the Council at the time of approval of the planned unit development: A. There shall be a minimum setback of the height of the building, or thirty feet, whichever is greater, from all property lines that form the perimeter of the entire plan of the planned unit development. Subject to approval of the City Council, building setbacks may be decreased from the perimeter setback requirement for any new Planned Unit Development if pedestrian linkages to neighboring developments for residents, employees, or shoppers are provided along with an approved streetscape plan with enhanced landscaping. This standard is met. The building is approximately 38’ in height and the shortest perimeter setback of the building is to the southwest at 34’. This section allows reductions from the minimum setback, in this case 38’, when pedestrian linkages to neighboring developments and an enhanced landscape plan are included. In an effort to comply with the exception, the applicant has provided sidewalk connections along 14th ST NW to Old Highway 8 NW and east to Northwest Parkway, providing pedestrian linkages to neighboring developments – both north/south and east/west. The applicant has also provided an enhanced landscape plan. Staff finds this reasonable based on the intent of the PUD and the originally adopted principles of the Northwest Quadrant Framework Plan.