Stone Brook Children's Academy & Childcare Center Purchase Agreement

Purpose
The EDA and City Council are considering the attached purchase agreement (PA) with Stone Brook Academy for 1-acre of land located near the center of The COR for a children's academy and childcare center.  It is customary for the City to allow the Planning Commission to comment on purchase agreements for City-owned land before they are executed. Specifically, the City Council is seeking preliminary comments on the proposed land use/ concept site layout.

Staff suggests three major talking points for the Planning Commission:

(1) The proposed Stone Brook project has sparked the discussion of the Yolite Street connection.  At this point, the EDA, Planning Commission, and City Council have all generally agreed, a connection is needed.  However, the "type" of connection is an outstanding item.  Should the City require Yolite to be a formal public roadway, designed to public road standards (much like Sapphire Street in The COR).  Or, can the Yolite Street connection be constructed as a private drive connection (much like Residence at The COR or Casey's).  Stone Brook would prefer a private drive connection.  Staff is open to either option.

(2) The proposed Stone Brook building orientation does include portions of the building set-back from Sunwood Drive (much like the City's Municipal Center Building).  Generally speaking, The COR Design Standards require the building to be pushed up against Sunwood Drive.  Staff believes this project meets the general intent of The COR Design Standards.  However, the proposed Stone Brook building orientation, partially set-back from Sunwood, will likely require some sort of deviation (or variance) from the City's COR Design Standards.  Staff would like to know if the Planning Commission is open to the proposed building orientation on Sunwood Drive?  From a preliminary perspective, Staff is generally comfortable with the proposed building orientation.

(3) The Planning Commission reviewed the attached four master plan options in February.  At the time, the Planning Commission showed general support for layout "B" due to the internal east-to-west road connection.  Staff would like to confirm the Planning Commission's position on that item.

It should be noted, this case is not an "official/ formal review" of the site plan by the Planning Commission.  That will occur formally in the future, during the entitlement process (i.e. official site plan/ plat).  The purpose of this case is to gather "preliminary" input on the site layout for the benefit of the Council and Stone Brook, as they negotiate the attached purchase agreement.  The site layout of any project drastically effects project costs, and therefore has a direct effect on the purchase agreement negotiation.  Additionally, this feedback will help Stone Brook with providing direction to their architects/ engineers that will formally design the project (and prepare for official applications).  Therefore, any preliminary Planning Commission comments are valuable. 

 

 

Review Summary
This case was reviewed by the EDA on 12/08/16 and 01/12/17. This case was reviewed by the Planning Commission on 01/05/17 and 02/02/17. This case was reviewed by the Council on 01/24/17 and 02/14/17. All parties are generally very supportive of the use/ proposed project. However, the site location has been the focal point of conversations to-date.

The EDA is in general support of Stone Brook's proposed site location, Site #1 (5-1 vote on 01/12/17). The Planning Commission is in general support of Stone Brook's proposed site location, Site #1 (5-1 vote on 02/02/17). The Council is in general support of Stone Brook's proposed site location, Site #1 (7-0 vote on 02/14/17).

It appears all boards/ commissions have indicated support for a north-to-south road connection (Veteran's to Sunwood). It appears there is not consensus on whether that road connection be a private drive or a public road. Additionally, it appears there is general support for the attached master plan "B" which shows an east-to-west internal connection through the proposed Stone Brook site. Please see attached Site #1 Feedback Log for details.


City Review process
This case is being addressed in several separate steps:

Step 1: Site Location/ Site Concept
The purpose of this case is to provide direction from a master developer perspective (site location, concept project layout).

Step 2: Real Estate transaction (current case)
The purpose of this step will be to consider a formal purchase agreement (i.e. deal terms).

Step 3: Entitlement
The purpose of this step is to review Plat and Site Plan applications (i.e. site plan/ zoning/ land use regulations).

NA

Provide preliminary feedback on the proposed concept site layout.

Provide preliminary feedback on the proposed concept site layout.  Below are talking points suggested by staff.