Planning Commission Minutes 2003 07 17

Home Browse Search

Approved – September 18, 2003 Wood described the project as follows: The property is located at 725 Main Street, Lots 23 and 24, Block 5, Town of Louisville Subdivision and is approximately 15,000 SF in area. The PUD reflects a two building, in-fill proposal. The main level is designed for commercial retail and the second floor has two, multi-family residential units in each building. The project is subject to the provisions of the Louisville Municipal code (LMC) as well as the Downtown Louisville Framework Plan, adopted in March of 1999, and the Design Handbook for Downtown Louisville, adopted in July of 1998. Wood indicated that the applicant, in a letter dated June 24, 2003, addressed the six conditions of approval for the preliminary PUD and the final PUD Development Plan reflects compliance with all six conditions of approval. The concept of a mixed-use building has certainly been an historic form of downtown development; it is somewhat of a new form being re-introduced into Downtown Louisville. The LMC does provide the basis for such a use in Section 17.12.030. The Framework and the Design Handbook organize the Downtown are into care and transition areas as means of transitions from the core business district to the surrounding residential zoned areas. The subject property is located in a transition area. The Framework Plan limits FAR in a transition zone to a maximum of 1.3, which in this project would allow up to 19,000 SF of development. The proposed FAR is .62, which is less than half of the maximum FAR contemplated. Wood noted that the maximum building height for the Downtown area is 29’ and the proposed maximum height of the ridgeline is 28’ on the northerly building and 27’ on the southerly building. The other setbacks are in compliance with the transition district. The primary focus for this hearing is the off-street parking. The PUD shows a total of 15 off-street parking spaces with alley access. The required parking ration of one space per 400 SF of new floor area would carry a requirement of 21 spaces. This count does exempt the first 999 SF per Ordinance No. 1376, Series 2002. Wood reported that it is the position of the staff that the off-street requirement should be 19 and not 21 spaces. The 19 spaces accounts for the commercial contribution to the off- street parking demand of 11 paces, as well as two full spaces per residential unit. Staff expressed support for the justification for shared parking, but based upon marketing the residential portion, the potential of having a home-based business, and the general inconvenience of requiring residential occupants to shuttle a vehicle around, recommended the shortfall should be managed on the commercial portion. The applicant is proposing in a letter dated July 10, 2003 that two of the commercial spaces will be limited to short term (20 minutes) parking. Each of the residents will be deeded two parking spaces, and the applicant will pay a parking improvement fee for the shortfall of four commercial spaces. The parking improvement fee will be a total of $14,400.00. The proposal is subject to both design goals and policies in the ‘General’ and ‘Transition’ section of the Handbook. The proposal is generally in compliance with goals concerning site design, screening of parking, building massing, selection of building materials and architectural detail. 5