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

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Duffy Development, on behalf of Coachman Ridge of Elk River Limited Partnership is requesting approval to create a 52-unit new construction apartment building with associated parking on a portion of Outlot G, Elk River Station. Coachman Ridge Apartments will provide a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments homes located adjacent to the Northstar Commuter Rail station. The site is compact and therefore, the building will be four stories in height at a little more than 23 units per acre. The unit sizes will range from one bedrooms at approximately 800 square feet, two bedroom units at approximately 1,000 square feet and three bedrooms that will encompass approximately 1,300 square feet. The units will have full appliance packages including typical kitchen appliances and in-unit clothes washers and dryers. As always, Duffy Development will utilize its expertise in building and management to choose materials and finishes that are of high quality, durability and energy efficiency. Common area ammenities include an on-site management office, on-site playground, community room, fitness center and business center. Each unit will have one underground parking stall and surface parking to meet the City's parking requirements. The proposal for the apartment building is consistent with the land use requirements and will provide additional units of moderately priced rental units in close proximity to the City business parks, commuter rail and other community ammenities. Duffy Development proposes this apartment building because of the successful completion, lease-up and continued strong occupancy of The Depot at Elk River Station. Based on market studies, there is a need for additional rental housing in Elk River. Coachman Ridge Apartments will fit in well with surrounding developments such as The Depot and Pullman Place which are both high density residential developments. In fact, all of the housing in this area is built as medium density or higher. This additional housing will hopefully entice commercial development on the remaining lots available on both sides of Twin Lakes Road. Duffy Development is working with LHB Architects on this development to very closely replicate the design of The Depot at Elk River Station which is directly acorss the street from this site. Materials will be chosen for their aesthetics, energy efficiency and function and will coordinate with the exterior materials of The Depot. The building will be designed and built meeting all the requirement of the Green Communites program. All units will meet the requirements of the visitability rule and two of the units will be fully handicapped accessible. Coachman Ridge continues the development of an overall transit oriented master planned community. Much of the proposed housing development has been built and includes owner occupied townhomes, senior housing and The Depot. Besides the existing and proposed housing, the master plan also calls for many other uses including a child care center, convenience store and gas station as well as retail and office space. All of this development is closely tied to the Northstar Communter Rail station. The City has also developed two business parks nearby the rail station which will further enhance employment opportunities in the future. The Northstar Business Park is about a 1/2 mile of the north and Nature's Edge Business Center is less than a 1/2 mile to the south. The proposed site is in the process of foreclosure and last made a real estate tax payment in 2010. This is an excellent opportunity to bring value and tax revenue to the City,County and Schools.