Consider Natural Resources Aspects of a Site Plan for CorTrust Bank (Project No. 25-123); Case of CorTrust Bank

The City has received a Land Use Application from CorTrust Bank (the "Applicant") for a Site Plan for a proposed new bank to be located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Sunwood Drive and Zeolite Street (the "Subject Property").

Project Overview
The City is currently the owner of the Subject Property.  The Applicant is also platting the Subject Property so that they purchase only the land they need.  The proposed bank will be approximately 5,000 square feet in size and will include two points of access off Zeolite Street (there will not be vehicular access to the Subject Property from Sunwood Drive).  The southern access is exit only, while the northern access includes both ingress and egress to/from the Subject Property.  There will be a drive-thru situated on the north side of the building and there will be twenty (20) parking stalls east of the building.  A decorative wall is proposed to screen the parking lot from Sunwood Drive.

Natural Resources Inventory Land Cover Classification
Per the City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI), there are no native plant communities within the Subject Property.  Furthermore, the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) categorizes the entirety of the Subject Property as 'Urban with Little Vegetative Cover'.  There are no wetlands or floodplain on the Subject Property.

Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan
The Subject Property is devoid of any significant trees and thus, there was no need for a Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan.  However, the City did install 'boulevard' trees in the fall of 2023 (none of these meet the definition of a significant tree).  The City will be attempting to salvage and relocate these trees, rather than having them removed and discarded.  It is unlikely that their locations align with the proposed planter beds, which have been spaced and located to ensure pedestrian access to the building from Sunwood Drive.

Landscape Plan
The submittal does include a Landscape Plan.  The plan includes a combination of deciduous overstory trees, deciduous and coniferous shrubs, and perennials.  Ground cover will be established primarily with sod, with a portion (between the two points of access) being seeded with a native seed mix.  The Landscape Plan will need to be modified to include a boulevard not less than six (6) feet along Zeolite Street and a public sidewalk.  Additionally, with the COR Design Framework emphasizing the public streetscape, the Landscape Plan will need to be further modified to include trees within the boulevard area.  

The COR Design Framework requires screening of a parking area if it fronts a public street.  The parking lot fronts against Sunwood Drive and thus, does require screening (can be in the form of a decorative wall, hedge, and/or a combination of the two).  The plans indicate a decorative wall that is 1.5 feet in height will be constructed directly south of the drive aisle through the center of the parking lot.  The length of the wall needs to be extended so that it provides screening for the entire width of the parking lot.  Additionally, the height of the wall needs to be increased to at least three (3) feet in height, but not more than 4.5 feet in height, per the COR Design Framework.

All costs associated with the request are the Applicant's responsibility.

Staff recommends approval of the Landscape Plan contingent upon compliance with Staff's review comments.

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