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Planning Commission Minutes February 27,2001 Page 6 S Staff report by Scott Harlicker. Finnemann Daniels Architects is proposing to construct a 3,025 sq. ft. Precision Tune Auto Center and 8,460 sq. ft. of attached lease space (11,485 total sq. ft.). The structure is proposed to be located between Country Inn Suites and Perkins Restaurant in the Elk River Retail Center on Dodge Avenue. Mr. Harlicker reviewed building exterior materials, orientation of the building, and trash storage. Mr. Harlicker reviewed the location of parking. He stated that 47 parking spaces are shown on the site plan, which includes 10 spaces for Precision Tune. Staff is recommending that the overall leased space be reduced to 7,400 sq. ft. in order to meet the parking requirements. The landscape ordinance requires 22 trees. Given the site constraints, staff will be working with the applicant on the number of trees, and possibly require larger trees or planting some of the trees off-site in a city park. Mr. Harlicker explained where trees will be planted on the site. The owner of the Perkins Restaurant will be working with the applicant and City Engineer Terry Maurer on some drainage concerns. The applicant is requesting to amend the conditional use permit for the Elk River Retail Center PUD in order to allow a 3rd free standing sign. The applicant will also need to obtain permission from Anoka Electric and the municipal utilities in order to place the sign in the easement. Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit including the monument sign, with the nine conditions listed in the staff report. Commissioner Baker asked if the City Engineer was recommending denial of the request to place the sign in the easement. Terry Maurer stated he would not recommend allowing the sign unless an agreement was made that the Utilities would not be responsible for the sign if they needed to work within the easement. • Chair Mesich opened the public hearing. Jamie Thielen of Sand Companies, 366 South 10th Avenue Waite Park, owner and operator of Country Inn &Suites Hotel, stated that Sand Companies originally owned the subject property and they have since sold it. Mr. Thielen stated that he has been working with Finnemann Daniels and is satisfied with the proposal. He stated that there is extra parking available at the hotel which could be utilized by the proposed businesses. Also, there is an area designated for future parking on the north side of the hotel, if more parking is needed. Mr.Thielen stated that peak hours for the hotel parking and the future businesses would be opposite and therefore would be compatible. Chair Mesich asked if he felt hotel patrons would have a difficult time getting to Perkins, without a designated pathway. Mr.Thielen stated that the hotel offers a continental breakfast which most patrons utilize in the morning, and in the evening most of the businesses in the Precision Tune building would be closed. Mark Finnemannemann, representing the applicants, addressed the conditions proposed by staff as follows: Condition 1, Monument sign-Mr. Finnemann stated that the sign is as important to the success of their business as the building itself. The applicants are confident they can install the sign without jeopardizing the utilities which are located there. Mr. Finnemann felt they could obtain the agreements recommended by the City • Engineer to locate the sign in the utility easement. Mr. Finnemann felt there is no other place to locate the sign without losing parking.