Consider Site Plan for Anderson Dahlen (Project #19-109): Case of Anderson Dahlen

The City has received an application from Anderson Dahlen (the "Applicant"), an existing Ramsey business, for a proposed Plat and Site Plan for a new manufacturing facility at the southeast corner of Jaspar Street and 143rd Ave (the "Subject Property").  The Subject Property is owned by the City and the Applicant is presently negotiating a purchase agreement to obtain fee title.  The Subject Property would be about nine (9) acres in size.  The remainder of the property would be retained by the City for a future Public Works Campus. 

Anderson Dahlen has recently expanded their existing facilities at 6850 Sunwood Drive.  However, they are once again in need of additional building space but their existing campus cannot accommodate another expansion.  Thus, they are looking at this site as it is just down the road from their existing facility and is within the same zoning district (E-2 Employment), which allows for manufacturing.

Staff has attempted to notify all Property Owners within 700 feet of the Subject Property, as listed in the Anoka County records, via Standard US Mail of the Public Hearing, and will also publish a notice in the Anoka Union Herald.

Observations:
The Applicant is proposing to subdivide a single lot approximately 9.30 acres along 143rd Avenue. The minimum lot area in the E-2 district is 1 acre with a minimum lot width of 200 feet.  The proposed lot far exceeds both the minimum acreage as well as the minimum lot width.

Building setbacks for the E-2 district are 35 feet from the front and 25 feet from the rear and side property lines. As proposed the building would be 90 feet from the front property line and approximately 140 feet from the side property line and approximately 148 feet from the proposed rear property line. The maximum building height is limited to 65 feet and they have proposed a building height of approximately 46 feet.  The maximum lot coverage is 45% of the lot which would equate to 182,301 square feet (45% of 405,115 square feet).  The Applicant is porposing a lot coverage of approximately 18.9%.  The Applicant is showing a potential future building expansion of 43,688 square feet which when combined would result in a lot coverage of 29.7%.

Lighting is required to illuminate any off-street parking area, sign, or structure and needs to be arranged to deflect light away from an adjoining residential dsitrict or public street.  The Applicant has provided a photometric plan showing the proposed lighted areas.

Staff has requested that the architectural elevations provided be resubmitted in color rather than black and white to provide staff a more full picture of what the building can expect to look like upon completion.

The site is unique in that it contains Foster Cemetery, which dates back to about the mid-1800s.  The site plan is showing an access easement along the eastern property line that would provide public access to the historic cemetary. However, Staff is recommending that the City retain this area in fee title as an outlot.

Alternatives

Alternative 1: Recommend approval of the requested preliminary plat and site plan with revisions as outlined in the changemarks report provided by Staff.  The proposed project would be a benefit to the community and still retain enough land area to construct a future public works campus.  Staff is supportive of alternative 1.

Alternative 2: Recommend denail of the requested preliminary plat and site plan.  Planning Commission should state specific findings of fact if it recommends denial.  Staff is not supportive of alternative 2.

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

Staff recommends approval of the site plan and associated approvals for Anderson Dahlen contingent upon compliance with staff review.

Motion to recommend approval of the Site Plan and associated approvals for Anderson Dahlen contingent upon compliance with Staff Review.