6.8. SR 08-18-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Memo to the Mayor and City CounciYP 97-7 August 18, 1997 Page 2 Crossing South. Attached to this report is a copy of Oak Park Plaza and Hillside Crossing plat along with minutes from each of those meetings to help the City Council piece together the history regarding this property. The primary issues in considering this plat and concept plan relate to: · Creating a development that respects the natural characteristics of the site (i.e., Protect ridge and buffer to residential). · Types of businesses (uses) expected to be developed on the site based on the current zoning of C3 Highway Commercial. · Traffic/access and assessing the current conditions along with long range forecasts based on future uses and ultimate build out in this area. Natural Characteristics The property has a varying topography and for the most part, is wooded with a large wetland complex to the south and two smaller wetlands on both the east and west side. As part of the staff review, Steve Rohlf has noted that the property is identified on the Minnesota Biological Survey as an oak forest/dry sub-type. One of the main features discussed in previous reports is the natural ridge line that basically parallels the south boundary of the former Oak Park Plaza plat. This ridge line was originally discussed in 1991 when the property was rezoned from PUD (Planned Unit Development) to C3 (Highway Commercial), residents in Deerfield Addition had requested the ridge line be protected to act as a natural buffer between the residential and commercial to the west. This same issue was presented to the Planning Commission and City Council during the applications of Oak Park Plaza in the early part of 1994 and with Hillside Crossing South in the latter part of 1994. Approval of Oak Park Plaza plat included maintaining a 30 foot drainage and utility easement along the ridge line in an attempt to protect this area from future development considerations. Subsequently, the replatting of this property as part of the Hillside Crossing South application included moving the plat limits further south closer to the wetland complex and the bottom of the ridge. Also, the easement was vacated leaving no protection of the ridge line. Concept Plan A concept plan illustrating how the property may be developed has been submitted by the developer. This was a condition of plat approval for Hillside Crossing South. The purpose for submitting this plan was to give the city an \\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\council\p97-7x.doc