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consultants are working with them on the Auf der Maur /Rickenbach site. He added that <br />E &S Ring is a long -term owner and professional manager of a number of apartment <br />homes, and from this experience, they understand what the market requires, what <br />residents require, and how to develop and maintain a high quality community. He <br />stated that the minimum density of 30 units to the acre requires significant flexibility, and <br />he believed this flexibility needs to be incorporated into the design guidelines. He <br />indicated that when they first look at the community, they look at both the site and the <br />surrounding area and what the residents require for that community, and they develop <br />those criteria to meet the demands of the residents so they can live in this high - quality <br />community. <br />Mr. Busch stated that they have a vision for the Auf der Maur /Rickenbach site of a <br />sustainable mixed -use community, and there are some things in the design guidelines <br />that they are asking for, including additional flexibility for those elements. He indicated <br />that they sent a letter in May 2012 describing many of those items. He noted that the <br />community they are proposing exceeds the parking requirements of both residents of <br />typical communities and projects and also of the City, and this flexibility is important for <br />perpendicular parking on internal streets and the landscape fingers. He requested that <br />that flexibility be incorporated into the guidelines, as well as some opportunities to <br />provide solid and very attractive articulation on garage doors without recessing them <br />two feet. <br />Ardie Zahedani, Saint Anton Partners, stated that they have the privilege of partnering <br />with Nearon to develop the current Nearon site. He indicated that they have developed <br />6,000 units throughout the state that they continue to own and manage. He noted that <br />the number one issue on almost every site, regardless of the type of design, building, or <br />uses, is parking, and having insufficient parking with folks having to park outside of the <br />neighborhood creates a nuisance and management issues. He added that they have <br />been working with staff to really shape what they think the neighbors will agree to and <br />appreciate, and in their initial design, they have included 303 parking spaces where <br />285 parking spaces are required per City code. <br />Mr. Zahedani stated that they took great measure to ensure that they are keeping the <br />uses consistent with those of the adjacent neighbors at 30 dwelling units per acre and <br />three- and four -story buildings screened with trees. He noted, however, that one issue <br />that exists in the design guidelines that would significantly burden this project because <br />of its triangular shape is the internal street requirement. He indicated that parallel <br />parking will use 20 feet of space versus head -in parking which would use only nine feet, <br />thus, losing about 23 spaces on the site. He added that they have had three different <br />designers and three major firms look at this issue, and the imposition and <br />implementation of the internal street unilaterally throughout this project would create a <br />parking problem and a nuisance in the neighbors, and would not meet the vision in the <br />current design guidelines. He urged the Commission to provide some flexibility where <br />internal streets are not a mandate. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, July 11, 2012 Page 12 of 16 <br />