Review Site Plan and Final Plat for The Sapphire (Project No. 18-138); Case of PSD

The purpose of this case is to review a proposed Site Plan and Final Plat for a project known as The Sapphire, located at the southeast corner of Center Street and Ramsey Parkway (the "Subject Property").  The proposal is for a 4-story 118-unit apartment building that mirrors the existing Parkview East building just to the east.  The Subject Property is located within The COR Sub-District 1 (Mixed Use Core) and is subject to The COR Design Framework.

Natural Area Features
The City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) does not identify any significant natural areas within the Subject Property. The entirety of the Subject Property is classified as 'urban with little vegetative cover' per the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS).   The Subject Property is devoid of any significant trees and thus, there is no need for a Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan.  There are no identified wetlands on the Subject Property per the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) nor any floodplain areas present.

Sidewalks
Sidewalks are required along both Ramsey Parkway and Center Street.  Sidewalk and boulevard width are dependent upon the street classification within the Street Hierarchy of the Design Framework.  Along Ramsey Parkway (Parkway designation), the sidewalk and boulevard width shall each be six (6) feet wide.  Along Center Street (Downtown designation), a ten (10) foot wide concrete sidewalk is required with no boulevard.

Staff has addressed sidewalk and boulevard width standards within the Staff Review Letter, noting the requirements but also requesting certain adjustments and/or labeling to verify compliance.  It is worthwhile to note that Center Street will be upgraded at some point in the future and that these improvements would likely impact the required sidewalk.  Thus, Staff is comfortable with deferring this improvement until such time that Center Street is upgraded to a 'shared street'.  The developer would be responsible for twenty percent (20%) of those costs, which would include the required ten (10) foot wide concrete sidewalk. 

Landscaping
The plans do include boulevard plantings along both Ramsey Parkway and 145th Ave.  The Subject Property spans a longer, non-traditional block and thus, per the Design Framework, plantings are proposed in smaller groups of varying species.  All species and sizes are acceptable.  There are no proposed boulevard trees along Center Street and it is assumed that this is due to the need for a ten (10) foot wide concrete sidewalk with no boulevard.  The plans do, however, include plantings just inside the property boundary (between the proposed building and sidewalk) that will serve a similar role as boulevard trees.  Staff has noted in the review letter that the coniferous trees (three Austrian Pines) shall be replaced with a deciduous species to avoid future conflicts with pedestrians.

All costs associated with this project are the Applicant's responsibility.

Motion to recommend approval of the Landscape Plan contingent upon compliance with the Staff Review Letter.