6.4.
Regular Planning Commission
- Meeting Date:
- 10/04/2012
- By:
- Tim Gladhill, Community Development
Information
Title:
PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Ordinance to Amend City Code Section 117-118 (The COR) Approving Amendment to The COR Design Framework Related to Off-Street Parking, Signs, Parks and Trails, and Sub-District Boundaries
Background:
This case relates to requested amendments to The COR Design Framework for the following topics:
- Master Sign Plan and Private Signs
- Parking Standards for Restaurants
- Updated Development Plan and Sub-District Boundaries
Notification:
The Public Hearing was properly published in the Anoka County Union, the City's official newsletter for Public Hearings.
Observations:
Master Sign Plan
The original version of the Design Framework included provisions for a Master Sign Plan. At that time, only locations of these larger community and development signs had been determined. The design and bulk of those signs had not yet been determined. This amendment now creates Appendix B of the Design Framework that includes these design factors. Community Signs are those signs that are generally located along Highway 10 and are intended to capture motorists attention into the development. Community Signs may include tenant panels for users within the development signs. Specific standards are included in Appendix B, attached hereto, and include the following:
Gateway Signs are generally located at key nodes and intersections of the development at Armstrong Boulevard, Bunker Lake Boulevard, and Ramsey Boulevard. General Gateway Signs may not include tenant panels. Retail Gateway Signs may include tentant panels.
Community Kiosks are generally located in the center of the development with the highest emphasis on the pedestrian. As such, these are intended to be pedestrian scale and provide general information about the development and wayfinding information.
The revised text also allows additional flexibility for Project (private signs) at shared entrances in the retail sub-district. City Staff recommends additional flexibility in size in order to allow users to consolidate signs at shared entrances, thereby potentially reducing the clutter of signs along Sunwood Drive in this retail area.
The Master Sign Plan has the effect of being the Sign Code for The COR. As such amendments must be processed by Ordinance as any other type of Zoning Amendment would.
Parks
The City is actively working towards a future pedestrian overpass over Highway 10 known as Mississippi Skway. A component of that request is to relocate the designation of the Central Anoka County Regional Trail through The COR along Center Street. The preferred alignment is indicated in the revised draft.
Sub-District Boundaries
As the City of Ramsey Housing and Redevelopment Authority has approved a revised Development Plan, the Planning Commission must consider updates to the City's Official Controls (Zoning Ordinance). The Sub-District Map has been revised to reflect the preferred Development Plan (Version 6.1). The only change is to amend the COR TWO Plat from COR-2 Retail Sub-District to COR-2b Sub-District based on preferred land uses and parking needs.
Parking
Based on experience with existing users in the retail area of the development, Staff recommends amending parking regulations for restaurant users in areas without planned parking ramps to allow additional parking spaces beyond the maximum allowed. Rather than basing parking requirements on square footage, the revised draft proposes to base requirements on number of seats.
The original version of the Design Framework included provisions for a Master Sign Plan. At that time, only locations of these larger community and development signs had been determined. The design and bulk of those signs had not yet been determined. This amendment now creates Appendix B of the Design Framework that includes these design factors. Community Signs are those signs that are generally located along Highway 10 and are intended to capture motorists attention into the development. Community Signs may include tenant panels for users within the development signs. Specific standards are included in Appendix B, attached hereto, and include the following:
| Sign Type | Allowable Size | Architecture | Allowable Height |
| Community Sign | 300 Square Feet | Per Appendix B | 30 Feet * |
| Gateway Sign | 50 Square Feet | Per Appendix B | 10 Feet |
| Retail Gateway Sign | 150 Square Feet | Per Appendix B | 12 Feet |
| Community Kiosk | 32 Square Feet | Per Appendix B | 10 Feet* |
| Parking Ramp Signage | 100 Square Feet | Per Appendix B | (Wall Signage) |
Gateway Signs are generally located at key nodes and intersections of the development at Armstrong Boulevard, Bunker Lake Boulevard, and Ramsey Boulevard. General Gateway Signs may not include tenant panels. Retail Gateway Signs may include tentant panels.
Community Kiosks are generally located in the center of the development with the highest emphasis on the pedestrian. As such, these are intended to be pedestrian scale and provide general information about the development and wayfinding information.
The revised text also allows additional flexibility for Project (private signs) at shared entrances in the retail sub-district. City Staff recommends additional flexibility in size in order to allow users to consolidate signs at shared entrances, thereby potentially reducing the clutter of signs along Sunwood Drive in this retail area.
The Master Sign Plan has the effect of being the Sign Code for The COR. As such amendments must be processed by Ordinance as any other type of Zoning Amendment would.
Parks
The City is actively working towards a future pedestrian overpass over Highway 10 known as Mississippi Skway. A component of that request is to relocate the designation of the Central Anoka County Regional Trail through The COR along Center Street. The preferred alignment is indicated in the revised draft.
Sub-District Boundaries
As the City of Ramsey Housing and Redevelopment Authority has approved a revised Development Plan, the Planning Commission must consider updates to the City's Official Controls (Zoning Ordinance). The Sub-District Map has been revised to reflect the preferred Development Plan (Version 6.1). The only change is to amend the COR TWO Plat from COR-2 Retail Sub-District to COR-2b Sub-District based on preferred land uses and parking needs.
Parking
Based on experience with existing users in the retail area of the development, Staff recommends amending parking regulations for restaurant users in areas without planned parking ramps to allow additional parking spaces beyond the maximum allowed. Rather than basing parking requirements on square footage, the revised draft proposes to base requirements on number of seats.
Funding Source:
Preparation of the amendments are being handled by a combination of regular Staff duties and professional services. The City of Ramsey Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) approved a scope of services to complete the project.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the proposed ordinance, which includes the revised Design Framework and Master Sign Plan.
Committee Action:
Motion to recommend that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance, which includes the revised Design Framework and Master Sign Plan.
Attachments
- Proposed Amendment to Design Framework
- Proposed Development Plan Version 6.1
- Proposed Master Sign Plan
- Proposed Appendix B to Design Framework
- Proposed Ordinance
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Hagen | Tim Gladhill | 09/28/2012 01:26 PM |
- Form Started By:
- Tim Gladhill
- Started On:
- 09/19/2012 03:37 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 09/28/2012