Consider Natural Resources Aspects of Proposed Site Plan for Jam Hops at 14165 Ramsey Boulevard NW (Project No. 23-113)

The City has received an application from Kinghorn Construction (the "Applicant"), on behalf of Jam Hops, for Site Plan review of a proposed new indoor commercial recreation facility located at 14165 Ramsey Boulevard NW (the "Subject Property").  Jam Hops is currently operating in a building just across the border in Anoka.  However, they have been informed that they will need to vacate their existing building.  This site remains convenient for existing clients while also providing an opportunity to grow the business.  The Subject Property is currently owned by the City and the Applicant is working with the City's Economic Development Manager on the land sale.

General Overview
The Subject Property is approximately 4.14 acres in size and is zoned as E-2 Employment.  The properties to the east and north are zoned E-2 Employment, the properties to the west (across Ramsey Boulevard) are zoned COR, and to the south of the Subject Property is the BNSF railroad tracks.  The proposed building is 24,400 square feet in size and the Site Plan does indicate the potential for future expansions to the north (8,400 square feet) and east (10,300 square feet).  When the Highway 10 Gateway project is complete, Ramsey Boulevard will be elevated over the railroad tracks and will tie back in to existing roadway grades around 143rd Avenue.  There will be retaining walls along the western edge of the Subject Property as a result of the Highway 10 improvements.

General Natural Resources Information
There are no native plant communities on the Subject Property per the City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI).  The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) identifies two cover types on the Subject Property, 'urban with vegetative cover' and 'dry grassland'.  There are no wetlands or floodplain on the Subject Property.

Tree Inventory
There are scattered trees on the Subject Property consisting primarily of elm (both American and Siberian), cottonwood, and boxelder.  The trees are predominantly located along the eastern boundary of the Subject Property and will be removed primarily to accommodate both a stormwater retention basin and a stormwater infiltration basin.  Trees removed for water quality purposes are excluded from the removal threshold calculation.  The project complies with the tree preservation standards as the proposed landscaping exceeds the reforestation requirements.

Landscaping
The site will be landscaped with a combination of trees, shrubs, and decorative grasses and groundcover will consist of a combination of sod, a low maintenance turf seed mix, and a stormwater seed mix.  The proposed species are all acceptable.  However, Staff is recommending replacing the two (2) sugar maples with a species that is more tolerant of urban conditions (sugar maples do not perform well as boulevard trees).  The plantings are primarily focused around the perimeter of the site and within the parking lot.  It appears that the Applicant is avoiding planting trees within the two future expansion areas.

As previously noted, when the Highway 10 improvements are complete, there will be a retaining wall along the western edge of the Subject Property.  The Landscape Plan shows a number of plantings located between the western boundary of the Subject Property and the parking lot.  Growing space could be limited, depending on the final grade of Ramsey Boulevard.  Therefore, Staff has recommended revising the plans to include that roadway information.  Depending on the height of the retaining wall(s), it may also be wise to modify the proposed species to include more shade tolerant trees.   

Staff recommends approving the Tree Preservation and Landscape Plans, contingent upon compliance with Staff's review comments.