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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 185-15 Joseph DevelopmentRESOLUTION WHEREAS, Joseph Development applied for a Restricted Development Final Plan #R2014-022CUP. The Applicant proposes to develop a four-story over parking 68-unit apartment building within the B-4 (General Commercial) Zoning District. The property is located along the east side of First Avenue N.W., and south of Fifth Street N.W., and, WHEREAS, the property is approximately .9 acres and is legally described as follows: Lots 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, Block 65, ORIGINAL PLAT in the City of Rochester, Minnesota, Olmsted County, Minnesota. (Abstract Property) AND All of Lots 1, 11 and 12, in Block 65, and the North -South alley (now vacated) between said Lots 1 and 12, in the Original Town (now City) of Rochester, Minnesota, and that part of Block 60, and of vacated Ninth Street (now Fourth Street NW), between said Blocks 60 and 65, and lying Northerly of and contiguous to a line that is 8.5 feet Northeasterly, of measured at right angles and parallel to the Chicago and North Western Railway Company Spur Track No. 277, as now located and established. Except that tract conveyed to W.R. Gosnell, described as follows: That part of Lot 12 in Block 65 and that part of vacated Ninth Street (now Fourth Street NW), between Blocks 60 and 65, in the Original Town (now City) of Rochester, Minnesota, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the point of intersection of the Southerly extension of the West line of said Block 65 with a line that is parallel to and 8.5 feet Northeasterly of, measured at right angles from the center line of the Chicago and North Western Railway Company Spur Track No. 277, as now located and established; thence Southeasterly along said parallel line, a distance of 54 feet; thence Northeasterly at right angles to the last described course, a distance of 40 feet; thence Northwesterly at right angles to the last described course, a distance of 70 feet, more or less, to a point in the West line of said Lot 12 in Block 65; thence Southerly along said West line of Lot 12 and its extension thereof, a distance of 42 feet, more or less, to the point of beginning. (Abstract Property) AND 1 That part of Lot 12 in Block 65 and that part of vacated Ninth Street (now Fourth Street NW) between Blocks 60 and 65 in the Original Town (now City) of Rochester, Minnesota, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the point of intersection of the Southerly extension of the West Line of said Block 65 with a line that is parallel to and 8.5 feet Northeasterly of, measured at right angles from, the center line of the Chicago and North Western Railway Company Spur Track No. 277, as now located and established; thence Southeasterly along said parallel line, a distance of 54 feet; thence Northeasterly at right angles to the last described course, a distance of 40 feet; thence Northeasterly at right angles to the last described course, a distance of 70 feet, more or less, to a point in the West line of said Lot 12 in Block 65; thence Southerly along said West line of Lot 12 and its extension thereof, a distance of 42 feet, more or less, to the point of beginning. (Torrens Property); and, WHEREAS, since the property is zoned as the B-4 (General Commercial) Zoning District and residential uses are not a use listed as a permitted use, the applicant is proposing the development through the restricted development process. Pursuant to R.C.O. §62.700, the Restricted Development allows certain mixtures of land uses which are not allowed within a given zoning district on a permitted or conditional basis which can, if regulated, serve both the public interest and allow a more equitable balancing of private interests than that achieved by strict adherence to standard zoning regulations. The regulations of this article recognize and provide encouragement for innovation and experimentation in the development of land that would otherwise not be possible under the zoning district regulations established by this ordinance; and, WHEREAS, this application requires a two-step review process consisting of a preliminary plan and a final plan. The preliminary plan phase follows the Type III, Phase II procedure with a hearing before the Planning Commission and a hearing before the Council. The final plan phase is a Type III, Phase III procedure with a hearing before the City Council; and, WHEREAS, R.C.O. §62.706 states the Council must approve a restricted development final plan if it finds the development satisfies the criteria listed in R.C.O. §62.708, subd. 3 or a modification for any unmet criteria has been granted as provided in R.C.O. §62.712; and, WHEREAS, R.C.O. §62.712 states the Council may waive the need to satisfy certain approval criteria if it finds- 1. The applicant has demonstrated that the plan as submitted adequately compensates for failing to address the criterion in question; and, 2. The strict application of any provision would result in exceptional practical 2 difficulties to, or exceptional and undue hardship upon, the owner of such property, provided the modification may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially impairing the purposes of this ordinance or the policies of the Land Use Plan; and, WHEREAS, R.C.O. §62.708 (Criteria for Type III Developments), subd. 3 provides the relevant criteria for the review of this application; and, WHEREAS, the Planning Department applied the criteria found at R.C.O. §62.708, subd. 3 (Final Type III Development Plan) to this application and prepared the following findings of fact: A. Public Facility Design: City sewer and water and other utilities are available to serve the site. Final water main construction plans and location will need to be approved by RPU and conform to standard the City of Rochester's requirements. B. Geologic Hazards: There are no known geologic hazards on the property. The parcel is completely flat. The site has a low to moderate sinkhole probability and there are no hydric or floodplain soils. C. Access Effect: Access to the site is via 5t" Street NW. The traffic projected to be generated from the development should not cause the traffic volumes to exceed capacities on local streets nor generate frequent truck traffic on the local street. The use will not create any additional traffic during the evening and nighttime hours on the local streets than what not normally occur if the property was developed for commercial uses. D. Pedestrian Circulation: The plan includes direct and convenient pedestrian access off of public sidewalks to the building entrances. There are two common entries as well as an underground parking entry and three entries directly to ground level units. Bicycle parking is provided in the underground garage and there are several existing bus stops within a '/4 mile of the site. E. Foundation and Site Plantings: A landscape plan for the site has been prepared. Further detail is required identifying the required minimum 10% landscape area as well as the required number of boulevard trees. 3 F. Site Status: A Final Plat has been submitted and approved. The Plat has been recorded as "First Avenue Flats". A landscape plan for the site has been prepared. Further detail is required identifying the required minimum 10% Landscape Area as well as the required number of boulevard trees. G. Screening and Bufferyards: The proposed project is providing 14 percent less landscaping than a traditional R-4 multifamily development, however, the proposed landscaping is 11 % greater than required by the B-4 (General Commercial) Zoning District at 21%. A majority of the landscaping will be along 1st Avenue NW. The Landscape Plan will need to show boulevard trees at a rate of one tree per 35 feet and show that the minimum required Landscape Percentage has been met. H. Final Building Design: The final building design is consistent with the principles identified in the preliminary development plan. Internal Circulation Areas: The design of the off-street parking, loading areas, and circulation aisles meet ordinance requirements in terms of design, however, an updated site plan is required labeling the circulation aisle, leading to the 45-degree parking area, as a one way. J. Ordinance Requirements: The proposed development is not consistent with the requirements of the underlying zoning district for similar uses. Since the property is zoned as the B-4 (General Commercial) Zoning District and residential uses are not a use listed as a permitted use, the applicant is proposing the development through the restricted development process. Signage was not proposed as part of this request. K. Non -vehicular and Alternate Travel Modes: The proposed building provides direct and convenient pedestrian access to the building entrances from the adjacent public sidewalks. Bicycle parking is provided in the underground garage and there are several existing bus stops within a'/4 mile of the site; and, WHEREAS, the Planning Department's March 17, 2015, staff report states that, if the City supports the application, Planning Department staff would recommend the following conditions of approval be imposed: 21 1. The Council's actions in approving this development occur in response to the applicant's or his/her representative's oral and written representations as to the appearance of the building design, exterior fagade, and landscaping. As such, the applicant must not deviate from the appearance of the building design, exterior fagade and landscaping as originally presented to the Council without the Council's prior approval. 2. An updated Landscape Plan is required identifying the required minimum 10% Landscape Area as well as the required number of boulevard trees at a rate of one tree per 35 feet of road frontage. A total of 13 trees are required. Prior to the development of the property, the Owner shall determine which of the two available options, Payment Method or Boulevard Tree Agreement Method, will be used to meet its boulevard tree obligations for each phase of development. Once the option is selected, the Owner shall either make applicable cash payment or execute a Boulevard Tree Green Facilities Agreement prior to any development. 3. An updated site plan is required labeling the circulation aisle, leading to the 45 degree parking area on the east side of the building, as a "one way." 4. Approval of the new water service location must be approved by Rochester Public Utilities. The service must be located on 1st Ave NW as no water main currently exists within 5th St NW. 5. All existing water services must be abandoned properly at the main in the street and the curb or valve box removed unless the water main is replaced. 6. If the east '/2 of 1st Ave NW is to be reconstructed, then there must be approval from RPU on the replacement of the existing 6" CIP water main located there. 7. Grading & Drainage Plan approval is required, as well as, payment of any applicable Storm Water Management Area Charge for any increase in impervious surface. The owner may be required to provide on -site rate control, and / or extend public storm sewer to serve this project. 8. The condition of the existing pedestrian facilities, curb & gutter, will be reviewed by Public Works staff, and any needed panel replacement and repair work will be required at the Owner's expense concurrent with development. 5 9. As discussed during the preliminary plan review, execution of a City Prepared Noise Easement is required for this project. 10. The City will not mandate the total reconstruction of the public alley abutting this property concurrent with this redevelopment, provided the owner enters into an agreement with the City to address owner's future obligation for '/2 of the cost for future alley reconstruction along the property frontage. The owner will be responsible to repair any damage that occurs to the alley resulting from construction related activities for this project. 11. Execution of a City -Owner Contract will be required for any public improvements required for this proposed development; and, 12. Charges/fees applicable to the development of this property include the following and shall be paid prior to issuance of utility connection permit(s), or at the City's discretion, within 30 days after invoicing (rates are valid through 7/31/15 and subject to an ENR adjustment thereafter): (a) Sewer Availability Charge (SAC) @ $2,738.65 per acre; (b) Water Availability Charge (WAC) @ $2,738.65 per acre; (c) Storm Water Management Area Charge — TBD (d) Plant Investment Fee (PIF) — TBD and collected through the building permit process; and, WHEREAS, on March 25, 2015, the Rochester Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on this restricted development final plan, reviewed the application according to the requirements of R.C.O. §62.708, and recommended approval based upon Planning Department staffs recommended findings of fact subject to the 12 conditions of approval described above and to the following 13t" condition of approval: 13. Put a maximum height of the west side fence of 36 inches and of material not wood or chain link; three walk ways going through the recreational space shall not be barred with gates where they meet the public sidewalk; and, WHEREAS, on April 20, 2015, the Common Council held a public hearing on the restricted development final plan request and permitted all interested persons to be heard; and, WHEREAS, based upon a preponderance of the evidence submitted at the April 20t" public C9 hearing, the Common Council adopts as its own the Planning Commission's recommended findings of fact and 13 conditions of approval as described above; and, WHEREAS, based upon a preponderance and substantial weight of the evidence submitted at the April 20t" public hearing, the Common Council determines that the Applicant satisfied the criteria of R.C.O. §62.708 subject to the 13 conditions of approval recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Rochester that the Restricted Development Final Plan #R2014-022CUP requested by Joseph Development is in all things approved subject to the 13 conditions of approval as stated herein. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS ATTEST: CITY CLERK DAY OF , 2015. PRESIDENT OF SAID COMMON COUNCIL APPROVED THIS DAY OF , 2015. (Seal of the City of Rochester, Minnesota) Zone 15\RestDevFi na1.1422 7 MAYOR OF SAID CITY