Sponsor - Sheila Sellman, City Planner
Title
Title
Second Reading
Granting a Rezoning from B-2 (Community Commercial) to DF (Development Flex) for 1.79 Acres at 9280 Baltimore St NE. Suite Living of Blaine (Hampton Companies) (Case File No. 21-0071/SLK)
end
Executive Summary
The applicant is requesting a rezoning from B-2 (Community Commercial) to DF (Development Flex) for the construction of a 32 unit assisted living and memory care facility.
Schedule of Actions
|
Planning Commission (Public Hearing) |
12/14/21 |
|
City Council (1st Reading) |
01/03/22 |
|
City Council (2nd Reading) |
01/19/22 |
|
Action Deadline |
02/28/22 |
Background
Staff report prepared by Shawn Kaye, Associate Planner
The applicant, Suite Living, wishes to construct an assisted living/memory care facility just south of 93rd Lane and adjacent to Trunk Highway 65 (east side). The site is currently zoned B-2 (Community Commercial) with a land use of CC (Community Commercial). They are requesting a rezoning of the property to DF (Development Flex) and a conditional use permit to accommodate the assisted living facility of Suite Living.
Assisted Living and Memory Care
Suite Living will be constructing 32 private suite units with 20 of the units providing assisted living services and the other 12 providing memory care services. The residents of the proposed assisted living building will be able to enjoy a home-like atmosphere in a setting that allows them the freedom to participate in many amenities that not only help assist them in their daily care needs, but also give them a higher quality of life. The building will consist of common areas that include dining and kitchen areas, a hair salon, activity room and lounging areas.
The memory care residents will have their own secured area of the building that has its own separate amenities such as a congregate dining room, activity room, and a secure patio area.
The 32-unit building is 21,390 square feet in size. The DF Zoning district does not require a minimum building size therefore this is an adequate size for this type of development.
The surface parking area will include 23 parking stalls. It is staff’s opinion this number of parking stalls is adequate since none of the residents’ drive. There will be approximately 3-5 employees on site at a time, with several stalls for visitors. The applicant has stated that the parking constructed on site meets the needs of the residents and staff.
The building and parking setbacks are consistent with the adjacent commercially zoned B-2 (Community Commercial) parcels.
Park dedication is required for the lot prior to site plan approval/building permit being issued for the site. The park dedication fee is based on the rate in effect at the time of final platting. The current commercial park dedication rate (2021) is $8,704 per acre, for a total park dedication fee (1.79 acres) of $15,580.
As proposed, the building will be constructed using stone, glass and cementious siding. Because this site will be zoned DF (Development Flex), the site must meet the Highway Overlay District requirements for building architecture per the City Council’s direction on previous projects. This building does meet those requirements.
The landscape plan for the site meets Highway Overlay District requirements. The following landscaping is required on site:
• Overstory Trees: 17
• Conifer Trees: 16
• Ornamental Trees:16
Signage will be considered under a separate permit.
All lighting on site must meet the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. All lighting must be downlit and shielded to prevent glare or spill and pole mounted lighting is limited to 20-feet in height. This plan is required as part of site plan approval.
Concerns were brought up at the January 3, 2022 City Council meeting regarding how future Highway 65 impacts could impact property along the corridor and whether new development projects should be approved that may be impacted in the future. The City, Anoka County and MnDOT are currently focusing design and funding efforts for Highway 65 between 99th Avenue and 117th Avenue. The Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study reviewed the entire corridor between County 10 in Spring Lake Park to Bunker Lake Boulevard in Ham Lake. The corridor south of 93rd Lane is very challenging due to various constraints. At this time, no definitive plan has been identified south of 93rd Avenue. Therefore, denying development projects along the corridor is not advisable.
The Trunk Highway 65 PEL study indicates that future improvements to Highway 65 at 93rd Lane will likely result in a change to the existing at grade intersection. While no decisions on what type of improvements have been made, nor funding identified, the applicant should be aware that this type of road improvement project is possible and likely will alter the 93rd Lane access to Trunk Highway 65. Additionally, there may be right-of-way impacts to properties that abut Highway 65.
When plans along the corridor are further defined, there is a process called Official Mapping that the City could implement. Official Mapping allows a governmental agency to identify properties that would be needed for future roadway purposes and allows the governmental agency to withhold development approvals and building permits. This process can only occur after a major thoroughfare plan has been adopted and process to establish an official map has occurred as outlined in Minnesota Statute 462.359.
Strategic Plan Relationship
Not Applicable
Board/Commission Review
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the rezoning. There were no comments at the public hearing. The Planning Commission asked the applicant if he had any other Suite Living facilities in the area. The applicant explained he had seven facilities up and running in the Twin Cities and six more were under construction.
Financial Impact
Not Applicable.
Public Outreach/Input
Notice of a public hearing were:
1. Mailed to property owners within 350 feet of the property boundaries.
2. Published in Blaine/Spring Lake Park/Columbia Heights/Fridley Life.
3. Posted on the City’s website.
4. Posted (sign) on the property with contact information for the Planning Department.
Staff Recommendation
By motion, approve the Ordinance.
Attachment List
Zoning and Location Map
Site Plan
Grading Plan
Utility Plan
Landscape Plan
Building Elevations
Floor Plans
Narrative
Unapproved Planning Commission Minutes 12/14/21
Body
THE CITY OF BLAINE DOES ORDAIN: (Added portions are underscored and deleted portions are shown with strikethrough.)
Section 1. The Official Zoning Map of the Zoning Code of the Municipal Code of the City of Blaine is hereby amended to change the zoning classification of the following described property:
THAT PRT OF NW1/4 OF NE1/4 OF SEC 32 TWP 31 RGE 23 DESC AS FOL: COM ON N LINE OF SEC 32 31 23 WHERE SD N LINE INTERSECTS E LINE OF TRK HWY 5 (AS located prior to January 1, 1952),TH E ALG SD N LINE 495 FT, TH S PRLL/W E LINE THEREOF 264 FT , TH W PR LL/W SD N LINE 495 FT TO SD E R/W LINE TH N ALG SD E R/W LINE 264 FT TO POB, EX RD, SUBJ TO EASE OF REC
Section 2. The above described property is hereby rezoned from:
B-2 (Community Commercial)
to
DF (Development Flex
Section 3. The City Manager is hereby directed to make the appropriate changes in the Official Zoning Map of the City of Blaine to reflect and show the changes in zoning classification as set forth above.
INTRODUCED and read in full this 3rd day of January, 2022.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 19th day of January, 2022.