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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20120507 - VIII-B-6 To: Mayor Hicks & City Council From: John Hinzman, Community Development Director Date: May 7, 2012 Item: Resolution – Site Plan #2012-12 – Parking & Access Changes – Hastings Middle School\Pinecrest Elementary. City Council Action Requested: Hastings Public Schools request site plan approval to make the following modifications to the combined Hastings Middle School\Pinecrest Elementary School campus generally located west of Pine Street between 11th and 13th Streets: ! Eliminate bus traffic from 11th and 12th streets. Existing one-way traffic patterns will remain. ! Designate 13th Street for bus loading only. ! Widen 13th Street 2-3 feet to accommodate the change. ! Construct a new 49 stall parking lot east of the district center. ! Reconstruct and reconfigure the existing main visitor parking lot located between the middle and elementary school. ! Construct a new bus parking lot and west parking lot west of the elementary school. The modifications are intended to ease existing access and circulation concerns at the school. The volume of parent pickups and drop-offs has increased in the last few years. Safety concerns have arisen with the mixture and volume of bus and car loading. Background Information: Please see the attached Planning Commission Memorandum for background information. Financial Impact: The request should not have an effect on the City Budget; application fees have been collected to defer city costs for review. Improvements within public right-of-ways will be the full responsibility of the school district. Advisory Commission Discussion: The Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of the request at the April 23, 2012 Meeting. Issues related to how the proposed changes would improve the current parent\student drop-off situation were discussed. A petition in support of the request was presented. Please see the attached Planning Commission Minutes for further information. City Council Memorandum Council Committee Discussion: None Attachments: ! Resolution ! Planning Commission Minutes -April 23, 2012 ! Planning Commission Staff Report – April 23, 2012 ! Location Map ! Site Pictures ! Site Plans ! Application HASTINGS CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO._________ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS GRANTING SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR PARKING LOT AND ACCESS CHANGES AT HASTINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL\PINEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Council member ___________________________ introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption: WHEREAS, Hastings Independent School District No. 200, property owner, has petitioned for approval of certain parking lot and access changes at the joint Hastings Middle School\Pinewood Elementary School campus, generally located at 1000 11th Street W, and 975 12th Street W, respectively; and WHEREAS, on April 23, 2012, review was conducted before the Planning Commission of the City of Hastings, as required by state law, city charter, and city ordinance; and WHEREAS, The Planning Commission recommended approval subject to the conditions of this resolution; and WHEREAS, The City Council has reviewed the request and recommendation of the Planning Commission. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS AS FOLLOWS: That the City Council hereby approves the Site Plan as presented subject to the following conditions: 1) Adherence to the approved Plans including Site Plan, Landscape Plan, Grading, Drainage, Erosion Control, and Stormwater Plans. 2) All disturbed areas on the property shall be stabilized with rooting vegetative cover to eliminate erosion problems. 3) Disturbed areas of the site shall be maintained to the requirements of the City’s property maintenance ordinance. 4) Final approval of the development grading, storm water and utility plans by the City of Hastings. The applicant shall be liable for any costs involved with project review. 5) All parking and drive aisle areas shall be constructed to city standards including concrete curb and bituminous surfacing. 6) Irrigation of non drought tolerant landscape areas. 7) Any uncompleted site work (including landscaping) must be escrowed at 125 percent of the estimated value prior o issuance of a certificate of of occupancy. 8) Approval is subject to a one year Sunset Clause; if significant progress is not made towards construction of the proposal within one year of City Council approval, the approval. Is null and void. Council member ______________________ moved a second to this resolution and upon being put to a vote it was unanimously adopted by all Council Members present. Adopted by the Hastings City Council on May 7, 2012, by the following vote: Ayes: Nays: Absent: ATTEST: __________________________ Paul J. Hicks, Mayor ________________________________ Melanie Mesko Lee, City Clerk (City Seal) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above is a true and correct copy of resolution presented to and adopted by the City of Hastings, County of Dakota, Minnesota, on the 7th day of May 2012, as disclosed by the records of the City of Hastings on file and of record in the office. ________________________________ Adeline Schroeder, Melanie Mesko Lee, City Clerk (SEAL) This instrument drafted by: City of Hastings (JWH) 101 4th St. E. Hastings, MN MN 55033 Planning Commission Minutes – April 23, 2012 Hastings Public Schools – Site Plan #2012-12 – Parking Lot and Entrance Modifications – Hastings Middle School and Pinecrest Elementary. Hinzman presented the staff report. Bob Scherer, owner of 900 12th Street West said it sounds easy to split the bus traffic from the parents dropping off their kids, but unless you live there you cannot understand how those parents will do anything, accidents have occurred and a child was even killed there years ago. He asked if 12th Street was planned to be improved and assessed to him. Nick Marcucci, Wold Architects, agent, said the expense would be borne by the school district. Scherer asked if all the busses will be going in and out of 13th Street only. Marcucci said busses with handicapped children will be accessing the site with from other streets. Vaughan asked where buses will enter the site after hours. Marcucci said the bus corral is only for drop off and pick up. He added that after that time, the busses will enter and exit wherever they wish to. Mike Brabender, representative for Hastings Schools, said the reason for this project is to separate busses and cars at the point of pick up on the school property. Bullington said he dropped his student off at the school and was almost hit by a car in the north parking lot. He asked if the school district has any plans to address the chaos of that parking lot. Marcucci said that would be part of a phase II that may happen in the future. Scherer said what started this whole mess is the school district changing the policy on bussing to a two-mile radius. Slaten explained the chaos he has seen in the area caused by parents rushing to the schools to drop off and pick up their kids. He asked if traffic lights have been considered. David Rey, Wold Architects, agent, said although the morning and afternoon rushes are busy, a continuous volume of traffic would be necessary to meet warrants for a traffic signal. Hinzman asked if there are crossing guards at the schools entrances. Brabender said they have trained adults directing traffic at 11th, 12th, and 13th. Slaten said a stop sign at 12th would be beneficial. Messina said he has driven a bus at these schools and is not confident that it will work as designed, particularly if or when cars get into the bus area. He asked if the district has run this proposal past the bus company. Brabender said yes. Motion by Commissioner Estenson to approve the site plan. Second by Commissioner Rohloff. Upon vote taken, Ayes 7, Nays 0. Motion passed. To: Planning Commission From: John Hinzman, Community Development Director Date: April 23, 2012 Item: Hastings Public Schools – Site Plan #2012-12 – Parking Lot and Entrance Modifications – Hastings Middle School and Pinecrest Elementary. REQUEST Hastings Public Schools request site plan approval to make the following modifications to the combined Hastings Middle School\Pinecrest Elementary School campus generally located west of Pine Street between 11th and 13th Streets: ! Eliminate bus traffic from 11th and 12th streets. Existing one-way traffic patterns will remain. ! Designate 13th Street for bus loading only. ! Widen 13th Street 2-3 feet to accommodate the change. ! Construct a new 49 stall parking lot east of the district center. ! Reconstruct and reconfigure the existing main visitor parking lot located between the middle and elementary school. ! Construct a new bus parking lot and west parking lot west of the elementary school. The modifications are intended to ease existing access and circulation concerns at the school. The volume of parent pickups and drop-offs has increased in the last few years. Safety concerns have arisen with the mixture and volume of bus and car loading. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Comprehensive Plan Classification The 2030 Comprehensive Plan designates the property as Institutional. The proposed use is consistent with the plan. Zoning Classification The property is zoned R-1 – Low Density Residence. Schools are classified as a “permitted use” in the R-1 District. Adjacent Zoning and Land Use Direction Property Use Zoning Comp Plan North Highway 55 1-2 Family Residences R-2 Low Density Residential & Commercial East Central Commons Office 1-2 Family Residences O-1 R-2 Commercial Low Density Residential South Single Family Residential R-1 Low Density Residential West Office Building Apartments Single Family Residential C-3 R-4 R-1 Commercial Medium Density Residential Low Density Residential Existing Condition The existing 43 acre site contains Hastings Middle School, Pinecrest Elementary School, Hastings Public Schools District Office, athletic fields, and parking lots. Proposed Improvements The following improvements are proposed: ! Construct a new 49 stall parking lot east of the district center. ! Reconstruct and reconfigure the existing main visitor parking lot located between the middle and elementary school. ! Construct a new bus parking lot and west parking lot west of the elementary school. ! Widen 13th Street 2-3 feet. Neighborhood Meeting The School District conducted a neighborhood meeting on March 12, 2012 to present the plans to the public. Approximately 10-20 attended the meeting. Neighbors expressed displeasure with the current traffic volume of parent pickups and drop offs at the schools. Notification Notification of the request was mailed to all property owners within 350 feet of the site. Two residents have contacted the city to express following concerns: ! Concern over any new entrances to the site (Lyn Way). No new entrances are proposed. ! Concern over increase traffic volume on 13th Street. SITE PLAN REVIEW Building Setbacks No improvements are proposed for existing buildings. No new buildings are proposed. Access and Circulation Access and Circulation is acceptable. The proposal improves access and circulation. The existing 11th and 12th Street entrances from Pine Street will remain one-way, and available for parent pickup and drop-off. 13th Street would be widened by 2-3 feet and designated for bus drop off (parent delivery would be prohibited). A new bus loading area and parking lot would be created between the schools. Busses would both enter and exit on 13th Street. Busses may also continue to use the existing bus drop off area on the north side of the Middle School, accessed from South Frontage Road and River Street. Parking Parking is acceptable. Overall parking exceeds minimum requirements. The plan utilizes the new bus turnaround to house additional after hours parking. A new 49 stall parking lot is added to the east of the district office to ease an existing parking shortage. The main parking lot is slightly enlarged from 174 to 190 spaces. Parking is provided as follows: Requirement Required Spaces Existing Spaces Proposed Spaces 1 per classroom & 2 per 30 students 263 spaces 123 classrooms 2088 students 332 spaces 387 total spaces 318 school day spaces 69 after hour spaces (bus turnaround) Parking Lot Setback and Screening Parking lot setback and screening is acceptable. The main central parking lot and new bus turnaround area are distant from existing homes. The 49 stall parking lot located east of the district offices has incorporated coniferous and shrub planting to help screen parking lot activities from adjacent residences. The parking lot is approximately 100 feet from adjacent homes. Pedestrian Access Pedestrian Access is acceptable. The site will continue to be served by existing sidewalks along 11th, 12, and 13th streets as well as trail accesses to Lyn Way and 14th Street. Additional crosswalks have been added to allow safer passage entrance areas. Tree Removal Tree removal is acceptable. It appears two trees would need to be removed (15” cottonwood, and 6” ash) to facilitate the construction of the loading area. The landscape plans proposes to add trees to compensate for the removal per the tree preservation plan. Landscape Plan The landscape plan is acceptable. Improvements do not trigger building landscape requirements (must exceed 25% building expansion). Parking lot landscape requirements are valid on proposed not parking areas. The proposed 38 deciduous trees, 10 coniferous trees, and numerous shrub planting exceed minimum planting requirements. Lighting Plan The lighting plan is acceptable. New parking lots would be illuminated. Illumination levels diminish to no more than 0.5 foot candles at the property per city code. Engineering Review The Assistant City Engineer has reviewed the plans. Site Plan approval is subject to approval of the Grading, Drainage, Erosion Control, and Stormwater Plans by the Hastings Engineering Department. Fire Department Review The Fire Department has reviewed the plans. Site Plan approval is subject to Fire Department approval including joining the two separate alarm systems located within the school. RECOMMENDATION Approval of the Site Plan is recommended subject to the following conditions: 1) Adherence to the approved Plans including Site Plan, Landscape Plan, Grading, Drainage, Erosion Control, and Stormwater Plans. 2) All disturbed areas on the property shall be stabilized with rooting vegetative cover to eliminate erosion problems. 3) Disturbed areas of the site shall be maintained to the requirements of the City’s property maintenance ordinance. 4) Final approval of the development grading, storm water and utility plans by the City of Hastings. The applicant shall be liable for any costs involved with project review. 5) All parking and drive aisle areas shall be constructed to city standards including concrete curb and bituminous surfacing. 6) Irrigation of non drought tolerant landscape areas. 7) Any uncompleted site work (including landscaping) must be escrowed at 125 percent of the estimated value prior o issuance of a certificate of occupancy. 8) Approval is subject to a one year Sunset Clause; if significant progress is not made towards construction of the proposal within one year of City Council approval, the approval. Is null and void. ATTACHMENTS ! Location Map ! Site Pictures ! Site Plans ! Application Proposed Parking Lot – East of District Center 13th Street Bus Turnaround PLANT SCHEDULE SYMBOL COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME SIZE ROOT DECIDUOUS SHADE TREES ACS SIENNA GLEN MAPLE Acer x freemanii 'Sienna' 3" cal. B&B GBA AUTUMN GOLD GINKO Ginko biloba 'Autumn Gold' 3" cal. B&B GTA NORTHERN ACCLAIM HONEYLOCUST Gledistia triancanthos var. inermus 'Harve' 3" cal. B&B TAR REDMOND LINDEN Tilia americana 'Redmond' 2-1/2" cal. B&B CONIFEROUS TREES BHP BLACK HILLS SPRUCE Picea glauca densata 6' B&B PPF FAT ALBERT SPRUCE Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' 7' B&B ORNAMENTAL TREES SSN SPRING SNOW CRABAPPLE Malus 'Spring Snow' 2" cal. B&B SPZ BEIJING GOLD LILAC Syringa pekinensis 'Zhang Zhiming' 2" cal. B&B SM IVORY SILK LILAC Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk' 2" cal. B&B DECIDUOUS SHRUBS CAC SUGARTINA CLETHRA Clethra alnifolia 'Crystalina' #2 Cont. CSA ARCTIC FIRE DOGWOOD Cornus stolonifera 'Farrow' #2 Cont. CSC ARCTIC SUN DOGWOOD Cornus sanguinea 'Cato' #2 Cont. PMS MINIATURE SNOWFLAKE MOCKORANGE Philadelphus x 'Miniature Snowflake' #2 Cont. POD LITTLE DEVIL NINEBARK Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May' #2 Cont. SFL FIRE LIGHT SPIREA Spiraea x 'Fire Light' #2 Cont. SJS SHIBORI SPIREA Spiraea japonica 'Shirobana' #5 Cont. CONIFEROUS SHRUBS JHP ANDORRA COMPACT JUNIPER Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa Compacta' #2 Cont. PERENNIALS/ORNAMENTAL GRASSES/VINES HRH HAPPY RETURNS DAYLILY Hemerocallis 'Happy Returns' #1 Cont. RRH ROSY RETURN DAYLILY Hemerocallis 'Rosy Returns' #1 Cont. HJP JUST PLUM HAPPY DAYLILY Hemerocallis 'Just Plum Happy' #1 Cont. SE EVELINE SALVIA Salvia 'Eveline' #1 Cont. SVK VIOLA KLOSE SAVLIA Salvia x superba 'Viola Klose' #1 Cont.