Approve Final Plat for Cottages at the COR (Case of Centra Homes, LLC)

The purpose of this case is to review the final plat of a 40 lot townhome development proposed by Centra Homes, LLC (the "Applicant"), on PID #28-32-25-14-0094 (the "Subject Property").  The site is generally located southwest of Bunker Lake Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard. The property is currently owned by the City of Ramsey and the applicant has a purchase agreement in place with the City.  The purpose of this case is also to consider the request for the vacations of an existing drainage and utility easement on the subject property.

The Applicant has received previous approvals for this project from the City Council including preliminary plat approval on June 26, 2018. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing for the preliminary plat and recommended approval of the preliminary plat on June 7th, 2018.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on September 25, 2018 regarding the vacation of the drainage and utility easements. Staff notified the small utilities of the drainage and utility easement vacation request.

The Final Plat submitted to the City is generally consistent with the approved Preliminary Plat, though specific changes related to landscaping, infiltration, and engineering requirements will need to be made before filing of the final plat. Additionally, there will need to be a shared access agreement between the Cottages at the COR Home Owner's Association and Symphony at Town Center Home Owner's Association signed before recording of the final plat.  Generally speaking, the proposed development complies with the COR4 requirements..

Alternatives:
Alternative 1: Approve resolution 18-184 approving final plat for Cottages at the COR, with the listed conditions that the developer complies with staff memos and ProjectDox comments, enters into a development agreement, has final approval of construction plans by the City engineer, and signs a shared access agreement with Symphony at Town Center.  This would allow the developer to purchase the land and move forward with site grading and building of townhomes.

Alternative 2: Deny resolution 18-184 approving final plat for Cottages at the COR. This would require the developer make changes to the proposed final plat before final approval by the City Council. However, the Final Plat is generally in compliance with the approved Preliminary Plat and thus, Staff is not supportive of this alternative.

All costs associated with processing the Application are the responsibility of the Applicant.

Staff recommends adopption of Resolution 18-184: Approving Final Plat for Cottages at the COR, contingent upon the applicant entering into a Development Agreement with the City, compliance with the Staff Review Letter and ProjectDox comments, and a signed shared access agreement between Symphony at Town Center and Cottages at the COR.

Motion to approve Resolution 18-184 granting final plat approval for Cottages at the COR contingent upon:

• The applicant entering into a Development Agreement with the City
• Compliance with the Staff Review Letter and ProjectDox comments
• A signed shared access agreement etween Symphony at Town Center and Cottages at the COR