Planning Commission Minutes 2001 07 19

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Roll Call Vote: Patricia Thompson, Yes; Bill McDermott, Yes; Christopher Leh, Yes; Tom McAvinew, Yes; Jeff Lipton, Yes. (Debra Kalish and Chris Pritchard absent) Motion passed unanimously. Resolution No. 28, Series 2001, a final PUD development plan for a 40-stall private parking lot, 925/937 Front Street, Lots 2 & 3, Block 1, Town of Louisville. Case #01-021- FP.  Applicant: Hartronft Fauri Architects  Owner: Arlin Lehman Public Notice Verification: Paul Wood, Planning Director reported that public notice was properly served having been published in the Daily Camera, posted in City Hall and mailed to the surrounding property owners. Staff Report of Facts and Issues: Wood reported that the applicant is requesting a final PUD development plan for a 40-space parking lot, located at 925/937 Front Street, to be used to meet parking requirements for previously approved buildings on Front Street. All existing residential structures will be razed if this application is approved. There will remain a residentially used structure immediately north of these lots. The subject property consists of two lots within the downtown commercial core are and are subject to the design requirements of the Design Handbook of Downtown Louisville (DDH). The properties are also within the downtown are a subject to the Downtown Parking Ordinance, which requires one space per 400 SF of new floor area. That requirement may be met through the provision of on-site parking, off-site parking within 700 feet or through payment of a few, which would be applied toward the construction of publicly owned parking facilities. Mr. Lehman has been approved for new buildings on nearby lots on Front Street. Those buildings need additional parking to meet minimum parking requirements, which is the impetus for this application. The parking lot is proposed to meet a portion of the parking requirements for the previously approved buildings at 901/909/917 Front Street. Two new buildings have been approved as PUDs on the properties, extending south from this property to Walnut Street. Those previous approvals included some parking, but not enough parking to meet the full requirement. These additional 40 spaces, combined with the other parking, will leave an approximate 8 spaces shortfall. The overall parking plan is one that Staff can support. The applicant has provided a raised planter along the Front Street sidewalk both to create some physical mass along the sidewalk and to screen views of cars parked in the proposed lot. Based on the wording of the parking criteria of the DDH the applicant is requesting an exception to that requirement through this PUD review process. The five-foot minimum setback along the north property line has been provided. The applicant proposes a solid wood fence on the property line to provide a buffer from the existing residential use. They also propose evergreen and deciduous shrubs to provide a softer buffer for the long term. Three parking spaces are proposed to be accessed directly off the alley. Wood reported that the City’s Parks Department has reviewed the landscaping information and has some concerns with some of the requested plant materials. Staff is requesting the ability to require changes to species during building permit review to address the concerns of the Parks Staff. Wood reported that parking lot lighting is proposed with two single-headed pole lights and 3-foot tall bollards along the north property line. The pole light fixture is more of a decorative style, similar to the 4