Planning Commission OKs Woodbury Spine and Wellness site plan with conditions

The Woodbury Planning Commission on May 5 approved a site and building plan for Woodbury Spine and Wellness, a single-story medical office building in the City Place development, subject to conditions requiring a proof-of-parking plan, revised landscaping for the northeast corner and signage controls.

The approval covers an 8,000-square-foot, single-story medical office proposed by Davis Real Estate Group LLC on a parcel south of Interstate 94 and east of Radio Drive; the site is in the GW Gateway zoning district and is guided as “places to work” on the city land-use plan. Dan, a city staff member, told commissioners staff recommended approval of project number 4202500578 “subject to the conditions found within your staff report.”

The project is the fourth commercial building Davis Real Estate Group has developed in City Place. Mark Davis, developer of the project, said the firm is “excited to be back today” and described prior projects in the development as successful. Matt O’Keefe, an architect with Synergy Architecture Studio, told the commission the north door is an employee entrance and that a concrete patio on the north side will be used for training and physical-therapy activities.

Why it matters: City Place is an established mixed-use area in Woodbury. The commission’s conditions require the applicant and staff to refine design details that affect nearby residents and the development’s pedestrian environment before building permits are issued.

The commission record and staff presentation note the property sits north of City Place Lane and west of Spring Hill Drive, with pedestrian connections to adjacent parcels and a nearby trail corridor. The city’s PUD approvals for City Place date to a city council approval on Aug. 6, 2014, with a subsequent PUD amendment on June 28, 2017, that clarified land uses after changes to the originally planned corporate campus.

Key project specifics discussed at the meeting: - Building size and materials: The proposed building is 8,000 square feet, single-story, and is to be built of approximately 86% class-1 materials (brick and stone) matching existing City Place buildings. - Parking: Under the city code’s parking standard (1 space per 200 square feet), the 8,000-square-foot building requires 36 spaces; the site plan identifies 39 spaces. Commissioners discussed whether some north-side stalls could be removed to increase landscaping and to reduce an apparent overabundance of pavement in the complex. Matt O’Keefe said meeting the 36-space standard “is really not an issue.” - Mechanical equipment: Commissioners asked about rooftop units; O’Keefe said the plan includes one high-efficiency rooftop unit with a matching screen and VAV boxes for interior zone control. - Stormwater and grading: The applicant described native-plant landscaping, stormwater retention on the site and grading that raises the site grade along Spring Hill Drive so the building will act partially as a retaining element. - Accessibility and amenities: The plan shows four accessible parking stalls; staff confirmed accessible stalls are included in overall parking calculations. The floor plan includes one shower consistent with code for the proposed gym/fitness use within the tenant program. - Site details and resident impacts: Commissioners requested staff consider a condition limiting sign lighting on the south elevation facing nearby residences and to ensure trash enclosure access and snow storage are workable for haulers.

Action and outcome: After staff read a draft condition requiring the applicant to work with staff on a proof-of-parking and revised landscaping plan for the northeast corner and to address signage lighting, a motion to approve the site and building plan was made and seconded; the commission passed the motion by voice vote with no nays recorded. The chair indicated the project will appear on the May 14 City Council agenda for final consideration.

Discussion versus decision: The meeting included a substantive technical discussion about parking counts, landscaping, stormwater handling, mechanical screening, lighting facing residences and trash enclosure placement. The formal decision was the commission’s conditional approval; staff and applicant were directed to resolve the proof-of-parking, landscaping and signage conditions prior to building permit issuance.

What’s next: The item will be on the May 14 Woodbury City Council agenda for review; staff and the applicant will finalize the proof-of-parking and landscaping revisions before building permits are issued.