Grand Rail Commercial Development Site Plan Application

Transcription

1 Grand Rail Commercial Development Site Plan Application

2 April 27, 2012 Memo To: North Liberty Planning Commission From: Dean Wheatley, Planning Director Subject: Site Plan Approval Request for 725 Pacha Parkway. (Lot 2, Grand North Plaza) Your North Liberty city staff has reviewed the subject submission, and offer comments presented in this memo. The staff review team includes the following personnel: Ryan Heiar, City Administrator Tracey Mulcahey, Assistant City Administrator Tom Palmer, City Building Official Scott Peterson, City Attorney Kevin Trom, City Engineer Dean Wheatley, Planning Director This request is to construct new commercial buildings including drive-through businesses in the Grand North area north of West Penn Street at the northeast corner of Pacha Parkway and Highway 965. The Grand North development complex is partially completed with multi-tenant commercial buildings and a complete parking and circulation system. The location of this development is a very prominent one for North Liberty, close to the intersection of Penn Street and Highway 965, and should be developed to a high standard to contribute to the image and quality important to North Liberty s future. The site plan is laid out with an interesting mix of one large and one small building, and includes drivethrough pickup lanes for future users. The plan to satisfy section of the design standards regarding pedestrian areas, outdoor infrastructure design, and parking areas is marginal, but includes good pedestrian circulation within the site and connecting to adjacent sidewalks, a bicycle rack, landscape areas at the fronts and rears of the buildings, a small outside eating paved pad, and a dyed concrete sidewalk crossing the parking area. The developer chose not to incorporate other staff suggestions such as increasing the landscape area between the street and parking, increasing the size of landscape islands, or upgrading the sidewalks with stampings and color. The planned buildings are nicely designed and finished, including the north building elevations that are highly visible when entering North Liberty on Highway 965 from the north. The developer has maximized use of the required masonry by using it on the most visible parts of the buildings. HVAC equipment is to be located behind the parapet walls of the buildings. The site plan is recommended for approval subject to Planning Commission s determination that provisions for pedestrian-scale features proposed are sufficient. Recommended by the Planning Commission for approval with no conditions 5/1/2012.

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12 Resolution No RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT SITE PLAN FOR 725 PACHA PARKWAY, NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA. WHEREAS, Grand Rail Development has filed with the City Clerk a site plan for property legally described as follows: Lot 2, Grand North Plaza, North Liberty, Johnson County, Iowa in accordance with the Plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 51, at Page 262 in the records of the Johnson County Recorder s Office containing 1.45 acres and subject to easements and restrictions of record. WHEREAS, said site plan is found to conform with the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance of the City of North Liberty, and WHEREAS, said site plan has been examined by the North Liberty Planning and Zoning Commission, which recommended that the site plan be approved. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of North Liberty, Iowa, does hereby approve the commercial development site plan for Grand Rail Development including such modifications, variances and waivers from the general requirements of the Zoning Code of North Liberty as shown on the site plan. Adopted at North Liberty, Iowa, this day of, 20. CITY OF NORTH LIBERTY By: Thomas A. Salm, Mayor Attest: Tracey Mulcahey, City Clerk City of North Liberty 2012 Resolution Number Page: 1