HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-003 Inf Sh 6800 Shingle Creek Parkway Application Filed on 2-1-01
City Council Action Should Be
Taken By 4-2-01 (60 Days)
Planning Commission Information Sheet
Application No. 2001-003
Applicant: Architectural Alliance (For Medtronic, Inc.)
Location: 6800 Shingle Creek Parkway
Request: Site and Building Plan Approval
The applicant, Architectural Alliance on behalf of Medtronic, Inc., is seeking Site and Building Plan approval for a 9,974 sq. ft. addition to the speculative industrial building located
at 6800 Shingle Creek Parkway. The property in question is zoned I-1 (Industrial Park) and is being combined with the two parcels to the south under Planning Commission Application
No. 2001-002 to create a large campus for Medtronic containing two buildings. The parcel under consideration is located to the north and east of Shingle Creek Parkway. It is bounded
on the north by 69th Avenue; on the east by the Earle Brown Farm Apartments; on the south by the Medtronic parking facility and on the west by the speculative industrial building at
6820 Shingle Creek Parkway.
Mr. Peter Vesterholt, Architect for the project, has submitted various information relating to this relatively minor addition to 6800 Shingle Creek Parkway. The proposal involves a
9,974 sq. ft. addition which would be located within the loading dock area of the building. The purpose of the addition is to house mechanical equipment needed to support a Medtronic
manufacturing function that will be located in the northeast corner of the building. The addition will be built in an area that currently is a paved portion of the service court or
loading area for the building. It will be built to match the exterior of the existing building which is a painted concrete block.
Medtronic, Inc. has recently acquired 6800 Shingle Creek Parkway where they have been leasing space. It is expected that Medtronic will continue to occupy more space in the facility
as other non-Medtronic tenants eventually vacate their spaces as leases expire. As mentioned, Medtronic is combining the three parcels they own into one through the platting process,
which will create a campus for their buildings. Further additions and possible site alterations may be made in the future.
ACCESS/PARKING
Access to the site is unchanged. It is a shared access with the building at 6820 Shingle Creek Parkway which lies to the west. This access is served by a median break in Shingle Creek
Parkway at this location. This arrangement will continue. The site plan shows 401 parking spaces on the site for this building. Assuming a 25 percent office/75 percent industrial
use of the building including the 9,974 sq. ft. addition proposed, 390 parking spaces would be required. The applicant has indicated Medtronic may have plans to either alter the occupancy
mix of the building or add space to it which may either increase the required parking or decrease the amount of available parking in the future. The fact that they are combining this
lot with the other two Medtronic properties makes this site able to take advantage of surplus parking in the lot currently located between the two buildings. They have also discussed
other possibilities for the future such as a covered walkway connecting the buildings. Such expansions/alterations would require future Site and Building plan approvals and are not
part of the consideration before the Planning Commission at this time.
Based on the above parking analysis, there will be sufficient parking to accommodate the proposed expansion and tenant mix for at least the immediate future.
GRADING/DRAINAGE/UTILITIES
There are no grading, drainage or utility changes proposed with this addition. The site is bound by B-612 curb and gutter and is served by storm sewer. No additional impervious surface
is to be added and drainage will continue as it is. The City Engineer has indicated that no watershed review and approval is required with this proposed building addition.
LANDSCAPING
The City uses the Site and Building plan process to evaluate compliance with current zoning ordinance requirements. Landscaping is one of the items that are reviewed. The applicant
has provided an analysis of all of the Medtronic properties, as they will be following the filing of the plat mentioned. The entire area is 19.13 acres and based on the landscape point
system used by the Planning Commission to evaluate landscape plans, a total of 995.2 points are needed. An inventory of the properties shows a total of 1,088 points based on 950 points
for deciduous trees, 132 points for coniferous trees and 6 points for shrubs.
The distribution of points is not consistent with the point system, over 87 percent of all of the points are deciduous trees, 12 percent are coniferous trees and .6 percent are shrubs.
The distribution of landscaping seems good throughout the site with a fare amount of landscaping along the 69th Avenue North green strip/buffer area. Island plantings and perimeter
trees are also well dispersed. It is the percentage or mix of landscaping that is not totally consistent with the point system. Attached for the Commission’s review is a copy of the
landscape point system. It should be pointed out that this is a guideline that the Commission uses for evaluating landscaping plans. The Commission may wish to review this further
in detail before making a recommendation with respect to the adequacy of the plans.
BUILDING
As previously mentioned, the building addition will be concrete block to match the existing building and will be located within the service court or loading dock area. The 9,974 sq.
ft. addition represents a 5.93 percent increase to the footprint of the existing building and is considered a relatively minor addition. The applicant has discussed with the City’s
Building Official and Fire Chief concerns regarding storage of lithium within the building. Lithium is a type of chemical that has a violent reaction to water and, therefore, the traditional
fire sprinkling methods may not be appropriate. The same question has been addressed in the Medtronic building at 6700 Shingle Creek Parkway and an acceptable method of fire detection
and protection will need to be agreed upon by the Building Official and Fire Chief prior to issuance of permits for remodeling the building. These discussions are ongoing and will be
addressed.
LIGHTING/TRASH
No changes are proposed for exterior lighting on the site and existing lighting seems appropriate. No new trash disposal facilities are indicated on the plan and are currently located
within the loading area of this U-shaped building. Any roof top mechanical equipment will be expected to be screened from view.
There is no public hearing required with this site and building plan application.
RECOMMENDATION
With the possible exception of some modifications to the landscaping plan if deemed appropriate by the Planning Commission, the plans appear to be in order and approval of this application
is recommended subject to at least the following conditions:
1. The building plans are subject to review and approval by the Building Official with respect to applicable codes prior to the issuance of permits.
2. Grading, drainage and utility plans are subject to review and approval by the City Engineer prior to the issuance of permits.
3. Any outside trash disposal facilities and roof top or on ground mechanical equipment shall be appropriately screened from view.
4. The building’s fire extinguishing system and detection system shall be approved by the Building Official and Fire Chief and shall be monitored in accordance with Chapter 5 of the
City Ordinances.
5. Plan approval is exclusive of all signery which is subject to Chapter 34 of the City Ordinances.
6. The applicant shall submit an as built survey of the property, improvements and utility service lines.
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