Site Information: 

Applicant: John Mesenbrink, Mesenbrink Construction

Address: 8600 Hansen Avenue

Lot Area: 9.29 acres

Property Owner: Hansen Avenue LLC

Zoning: I-1, Light Industry

2040 Comp. Plan: Mixed Employment Center

John Mesenbrink has applied for a 20' setback variance to the required 100' building setback to a residential zone at 8600 Hansen Avenue. 

The Planning Commission and City Council recently reviewed and approved a preliminary and final plat on this site. As part of the review for the preliminary / final plat, for informational purposes, staff shared the applicant's plans for a building that met the 100' setback to a residential zone.

Construction of the building does not require a plat or public hearing. The Planning Commission and some of the adjacent residents on Boiling Springs Lane expressed concern about the overhead doors of the building facing south, toward the residentially zoned properties. 

After discussions with the applicant and property owner, the applicant has agreed to apply for a variance to shift the building to the south 20', which allows the building to be rotated and have the overhead doors face east, instead of south toward the residential area.

The proposed speculative building is a 6-bay, 100' x 120' pre-cast concrete panel building. The applicant / property owner does not have leases for specific tenants, but expects the future tenants will be small contractors or storage users. 

The applicant is required to plant several trees on their site between the building parking area and the residentially zoned properties to meet the landscaping and screening requirements. The applicant's engineering consultant and the Engineering Department have been working on developing plans for stormwater management in this area to reach a plan that meets all of the design requirements and corrects drainage issues in this area.   

Staff supports the proposed variance request because it allows the building doors to face east and the applicant will be planting over 40 trees along the south lot line of the site as required landscaping and screening. The applicant has agreed to plant additional trees beyond what is shown in the proposed plan.