Consider Natural Resources Aspects of Site Plan and Final Plat for Skyline Apartments (Project No. 24-110); Case of PSD, LLC

The City has received a Land Use Application from PSD, LLC (the "Applicant") for review of a proposed Site Plan and Final Plat for Skyline Apartments.  The project is located on Sunwood Drive and is also bordered by Center Street, Sapphire Street, and 145th Avenue (the "Subject Property").  The Final Plat is essentially a re-plat of an outlot into a buildable lot (with minor adjustments to property boundaries to ensure sufficient right-of-way is dedicated for public roads).

Project Overview
The Applicant is proposing to construct a mixed-use apartment complex with 133 apartments and just shy of 14,000 square feet of commercial space.  The commercial space is split into two (2) units located at the intersections of Sunwood Drive and Center Street and Sunwood Drive and Sapphire Street.  Apartments will range from studio units up to three (3) bedrooms.  The building will consist of four (4) stories along Sunwood Drive and three (3) stories along both Center Street and Sapphire Street.  There will also be a row of single-story garages backing up to 145th Avenue.  The parking lot for the site will be screened from view from all public roads by buildings.  Apartments will be on floors 2-4, with internal amenities and enclosed parking on the first floor.  Amenities within the building include an indoor swimming pool (with 'overhead' doors that can be opened up during warm weather), multiple community rooms, and a fitness room.  Outdoor amenities include separate 'dog parks' for large and small dogs, a covered patio and a pickle ball court.

Natural Resources Inventory and Minnesota Land Cover Classification System
According to the City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI), there does not appear to be any native plant communities on the Subject Property.  The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) classifies the Subject Property as 'Urban with Little Vegetative Cover'.  Furthermore, there are no trees on the Subject Property and thus, there was no need for a tree inventory.  There are no wetlands or floodplains on the Subject Property.

Landscape Plan
The Landscape Plan includes both streetscape plantings and internal site plantings.  There is a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, with the evergreens being located internal to the site.  The Landscape Plan includes boulevard trees along Sapphire Street, Center Street, and 145th Avenue, and 'single' planting beds along Sunwood Drive (this matches what is across the street in front of the Ramsey Municipal Center).  Most of Staff's review comments focus on the boulevards and sidewalks.  In an attempt to mirror recent improvements to Center Street, Staff has requested that the narrow boulevard along Center Street be eliminated and replaced with a ten (10) foot wide sidewalk, which is what was constructed on the west side of the street.  Additionally, Staff has requested that a small portion of the Sapphire Street boulevard (adjacent to the commercial space) be eliminated and replaced with a ten (10) foot sidewalk as well (this will better accommodate pedestrians attempting to access the commercial space).

Irrigation is proposed for the site.  Staff has requested that the irrigation system be extended to provide coverage of the boulevard plantings along Sapphire Street and 145th Avenue, as well as the planting beds along Sunwood Drive.  This will be very beneficial for the plants during hot and dry stretches throughout the growing season.

 

The Applicant is responsible for all costs associated with this request.

Staff recommends approving the Landscape Plan, contingent upon compliance with Staff's review comments in ProjectDox.

Motion to recommend approval of the Landscape Plan for Skyline Apartments, contingent upon compliance with Staff's review comments.