TO:
Honorable Mayor Powell and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
David N. Carmany, City Manager
FROM:
Richard Thompson, Community Development Director
Eric Haaland, Associate Planner
SUBJECT: Title
Planning Commission Approval of a Planned Development Permit Amendment Revising an Existing Shared Parking Program for an Existing Commercial Center and Use Permit for a New Restaurant Located at 1550 - 1590 Rosecrans Avenue. (St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co. / Coffee Bean)
RECEIVE AND FILE
Body
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RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the decision of the Planning Commission approving the project subject to certain conditions.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
The Planning Commission, at its regular meeting of August 8, 2012, APPROVED (5-0) a planned development (PD) permit amendment and use permit allowing an existing retail space to be converted to a take-out restaurant use within an existing multi-tenant commercial development. The project will continue to conform with all of the City’s applicable requirements including signs, and landscaping. The PD district provides that most standards be established by the PD permit approving the development under consideration. The existing Manhattan Marketplace PD permit provides for a maximum of 22,000 square feet of restaurant use on the site corresponding to the 7% shared parking reduction originally granted, based on codes and shared parking analysis applicable at that time.
The proposal to raise the total permitted restaurant area to 25,208 square feet was determined to be appropriate by the Planning Commission since some parking codes have changed, some tenants occupying the center are lower in intensity than originally anticipated, and an updated parking analysis verifies that on-site parking will be adequate. The Planning Commission supported the specific restaurant proposal for a coffee establishment at this visually prominent location abutting Rosecrans Avenue, since it would provide a more interesting and active appearance to the shopping center, and benefit community convenience and finances. The Commission added that it would prefer the “Plan B” alternative (attached) presented by the applicant since it includes a more visually pronounced patio dining area, which is subject to approval by utility companies possessing an easement to the area closest to Rosecrans Avenue.
No public comments were received in response to the project public hearing notice.
ALTERNATIVE:
Remove this item from the Consent Calendar, appeal the decision of the Planning Commission, and direct that a public hearing be scheduled.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. PC 12-06
2. P.C. Minutes excerpt, dated 8/8/12
3. P.C. Staff Report, dated 8/8/12
4. Plans A & B