5.2 & 5.3 PCSR 04-08-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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transportation options for travel to and from downtown Minneapolis with connections to multiple transportation routes. Duffy Development also constructed The Depot at Elk River Station, a similar apartment complex located directly across Twin Lakes Road from the current project. The building continues to show strong occupancy and the applicant's market studies indicate additional needs for rental housing in Elk River. Analysis Plat The preliminary plat creates two buildable lots. The north lot,lot 1,will be developed as an apartment complex and lot 2 will be developed at a future date. The plat does not include access from Twin Lakes Road,and no access will be granted from the street.Access for both lots will be from a single driveway connecting to the Northstar parking lot. The parking lot is owned by MnDOT and an ingress/egress easement granting access the site is required. The applicant has been working with MnDOT, and staff has received a copy of the draft documents. Site Plan The apartment complex is located on the east side of lot 1 with access from the adjacent Northstar parking lot. No access will be granted from Twin Lakes Road,but plans identify a fire access drive connecting to Twin Lakes Road. A children's playground is located on the north side of the building with sidewalk access from the front and direct access to the parking garage. The playground is sunk below grade to reduce impacts from train noise. Pedestrian circulation includes a concrete sidewalk connecting to the existing walk along Twin Lakes Road and additional walks for on-site circulation. Parking On May 21, 2012, the Elk River Station PUD was amended to allow an apartment complex and reduced the parking requirement to 2.34 parking stalls per apartment. Using this ratio, 122 parking stalls are required. The parking requirements are met in three different locations; 52 stalls are located in the garage, 55 stalls are provided on the surface lot, and the remaining 15 stalls are provided via proof of parking. The final 15 stalls provided as proof of parking are not proposed to be constructed at this time.The applicants experience with their nearby building indicates that two stalls per apartment, as provided,are sufficient. Grading and Stormwater Drainage and stormwater management meets the current standard to control and infiltrate runoff from new impervious surfaces. Runoff from the parking lot and driveway is directed to one of two infiltration basins. The basin on the north side of the parking lot is a two chambered pond with overflow directed to a third pond on the north side of the building. This system is designed to handle the additional runoff from the proof of parking area,if required in the future. The second infiltration pond is on the south side of the building and is also located on a portion of lot 2. This pond is designed to handle runoff from the current project and future development on lot 2. Landscaping City ordinance requires 38 trees and the landscape plan includes 60 trees. Of the proposed 60 trees, 30 are deciduous, 14 are ornamental, and 16 are coniferous. The plan also includes a variety of ground covers and shrubs for different site conditions. Filtration basins will be planted with assorted wet meadow perennials,pond overflow areas are seeded with a native prairie mix, and sod is used on the rest of the exposed soil. N:ADepartments\Community Development\Planning\Case Files\SP\SP 14-02 Coachman Ridge Apts\SP 14-02 Coachman Ridge PC 4-8-14.docx