Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2015 12 10

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes November 12, 2015 Page 6 of 41 Rice says Staff's recommendation is that they give up the third story and bring the height down, but Staff also points out inconsistencies regarding design issues having to do with roof form, materials, and windows. Is Staff willing to let that slide or do you insist that they comply? Robinson says the Design Handbook provides guidelines. Staff evaluated them and, except for the height and number of stories, they are meeting the requirements in the zoning code. They are not in full compliance with some of the design guidelines. The waivers are above and beyond the design requirements. Without the waivers, Staff would be in support of the proposal even though it does not perfectly fit with the guidelines. Rice says what good are the guidelines if they are not enforceable in some fashion? Robinson says Staff did not feel there were any guidelines they were not even close to. A lot of these are a matter of interpretation or how closely they comply with therm. The roof form, for example, is not a simple gable. On the other hand, it is not the most complex roof form imaginable. It is somewhere in between. says in reading from the Staff report, a transition area is designed to provide a buffer between commercial development and the existing residential area Can you tell me, in what way, does this provide a buffer between commercial development and the adjacent Old Town neighborhood? What is buffer -like about this building? Robinson says on the west side, they are keeping the existing one -story building.' ,lt provides a buffer from the residential across the alley. A portion of the main building is stepped back along South Street so not all of it is against the property line. The western portion of the main building is stepped back about 5'. Except for the third story and the elevator overrun, the majority of the main building comes in at about 32 ". Moline asks about 931 Main. What is g g rr h he lot th recently approved? Robinson says 931 Main Street has a pet store in t :. ting c ercial building. They were approved for a two -story office building behind it. 9 et currently under construction with improvements being made to the existirl•, c...:mercial .. g, with approval for a two -story residential building on the back of the lot. Applicant Presentation: Ronda Grassi, 1894 Grenfell C I moved to Louisville in 1987. I moved ere at the same time so I have been renting in Old Town since the late 1980s to th- _: rly 1990s. I bought the South Street property 15 years ago. It was on the market for one day, I knew the gentleman who was selling it, and I couldn't wait to get that piece of property. I always had a big vision for it. I have been a member of the Downtown Business Association (DBA) for at least 15 years; through that organization, I helped create the Street Faire. From the beginning, my family, my kids, my parents, my nephews, and any teenagers standing around were put to work to help grow that. We really wanted to change Downtown and make it a vibrant place where businesses could succeed. put my heart into that. I personally thought of the patios on Main Street and used my company to draw them and present them. I got people to build them and donated the money to make it happen. It has transformed Downtown and brought many more restaurants and more retail to Downtown. There now seem to be two camps in town; one that likes what has been changing and happening, and one that maybe wants to stop it or not let it get too big. I understand that. We try to hit a good balance with this project. You have heard Staff talk about it. I would like to address a couple of things. The two buildings to the south of my property where the pet shop and now the yoga shop are, both of their old buildings are on single wide lots and right on Main Street. The backs of those buildings are open lots. My property is just the opposite. Originally, in 1900, the old building faced Main Street. The one that is facing South Street now was probably built about 1920. After he built the big house, he moved his family in there and took down the one on Main Street. In addition, I have a double wide lot, not just a single wide lot. It is more the size of Blue Parrot than the size of the pet shop. People have been talking about parking. I