Staff report for planning commission meeting on March - City of ...

Meeting of March 3, 2011 Page 2
Subject: Items concerning Toys R’ Us and Babies R’ Us
Background
2) Amendment to operation standards removing all
standards and restrictions associated with “50-foot
wheelbase” vehicles.
The existing TOYS R’ US store located at the Ridgedale Festival shopping center was
developed in the early 1990s as the first anchor tenant at the shopping center. The
existing TOYS R’ US store is 35,944 square feet in size. In ef<strong>for</strong>ts to expand its
presence in the Minnetonka market, the applicants are proposing to expand its retail
brand into the adjacent 24,864 square foot vacant retail tenant space (located east of
the existing TOYS R’ US space and <strong>for</strong>merly occupied by an Office Max retail store), to
create a 60,808 square foot combined TOYS R’ US/BABIES R’ US Super Side-by-Side
Store. As part of this expansion, interior modifications will occur to create one large
continuous store space and an enlarged, joint entrance is proposed. (See pages A1 -
A5.)
Amendment of the Master Development Plan
Upon approval of a development project, the city council general adopts an ordinance or
resolution that outlines: (1) the conditions under which a project must be completed; and
(2) the standards under which future operations of a site must be conducted. In some
cases, these conditions and standards are additionally outlined in a restrictive covenant
document. The ordinance, resolution, and restrictive covenant documents are filed with
Hennepin County.
Throughout the 1980s and mid-1990s, the city used a different mechanism to outline the
approved conditions and standards. A PUD or PID Agreement was used to detail the
approved plans, conditions, and standards. This agreement, which includes the master
development plan <strong>for</strong> the site, was signed by a developer and a city representative.
(See pages A7 – A22.) At any time a developer or property owner may request a
change or amendment to approved conditions or standards found in the master
development plan, regardless of whether they are outlined in ordinance, resolution or
agreement <strong>for</strong>m. While the city is generally not obligated to approve a requested
change, the city is obligated to consider and act upon such request.
Proposed Building
The proposed entrance consists of a parapet wall that will extend 7 feet beyond
the existing parapet roof line and will be 41 feet 8 inches high. (See pages A4 -
A5.) The new entrance will consist of an EIFS and glass façade. The existing
entrance and existing windows at the old Office Max space will be closed using
an EIFS façade. The entire front façade will be reconfigured with new masonry
elements to match the existing façade. As the building façade would differ from
the plans approved with the Master Development Plan, an amendment is
necessary.