14-07 Findings of Factl4 -o-1
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
FINDINGS OF FACT
AND RECOMMENDATION
IN RE:
Application of Taunton Ventures LP
On March 4, 2014, the Chanhassen Planning Commission met at its regularly scheduled
meeting to consider the application of Taunton Ventures LP for a Planned Unit Development
amendment for Chanhassen West Business Park to increase the overall development building
square footage from 365,000 square feet to 377,000 square feet; and site plan approval for a two -
story, 39,240 square -foot office warehouse building. The Planning Commission conducted a
public hearing on the proposed Planned Unit Development preceded by published and mailed
notice. The Planning Commission heard testimony from all interested persons wishing to speak
and now makes the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The property is currently zon6d Planned Unit Development, PUD.
2. The property is guided in the Land Use Plan for Office /Industrial uses.
3. The legal description of the property is: part of Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, Chanhassen West
Business Park.
4. The Zoning Ordinance directs the Planning Commission to consider six (6) possible adverse
effects of the proposed amendment. The six (6) effects and our findings regarding them are:
a) The proposed amendment has been considered in relation to the specific policies and
provisions of and has been found to be consistent with the official City Comprehensive
Plan, which is guided for Office Industrial Use.
b) The proposed amendment is compatible with the present and future land uses of the area.
This is an office buisiness park.
c) The proposed amendment conforms with all performance standards contained in the
Zoning Ordinance and the PUD Standards.
d) The proposed amendment will not tend to or actually depreciate the area in which it is
proposed since this use is compatable with surrounding uses.
e) The proposed amendment can be accommodated with existing public services and will
not overburden the city's service capacity.
f) Traffic generation due to the proposed amendment is within capabilities of streets serving
the property.
5. Site Plan Review
a) The proposed project is consistent with the elements and objectives of the city's
development guides, including the comprehensive plan, official road mapping, and other
plans that may be adopted;
b) The proposed project is consistent with the Site Plan Review requirements of City Code;
c) The proposed project preserves the site in its natural state to the extent practicable by
minimizing tree and soil removal and designing grade changes to be in keeping with the
general appearance of the neighboring developed or developing areas;
d) The proposed project creates a harmonious relationship of building and open space with
natural site features and with existing and future buildings having a visual relationship to
the development;
e) The proposed project creates a functional and harmonious design for structures and site
features, with special attention to the following:
1. An internal sense of order for the buildings and use on the site and provision of a
desirable environment for occupants, visitors and general community;
2. The amount and location of open space and landscaping;
3. Materials, textures, colors and details of construction as an expression of the design
concept and the compatibility of the same with adjacent and neighboring structures
and uses; and
4. Vehicular and pedestrian circulation, including walkways, interior drives and parking
in terms of location and number of access points to the public streets, width of interior
drives and access points, general interior circulation, separation of pedestrian and
vehicular traffic and arrangement and amount of parking.
f) The proposed project protects adjacent and neighboring properties through reasonable
provision for surface water drainage, sound and sight buffers, preservation of views, light
and air and those aspects of design not adequately covered by other regulations which
may have substantial effects on neighboring land uses.
2
6. The planning report 92014 -07 dated March 4, 2014, prepared by Robert Generous, et al, is
incorporated herein.
RECOMMENDATION
The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the Planned Unit
Development amendment increasing the overall building square footage from 365,000 to 377,000
square feet and site plan review for a two - story, 39,240 square -foot, office /warehouse building,
Planning Case #2014 -07.
ADOPTED by the Chanhassen Planning Commission this 4 "' day of March, 2014.
CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION
BY:
Its Chairman
gAplan\2014 planning cases\2014 -07 business impact group\£indings of fact.doc