City Council Minutes 2016 11 01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes November 1, 2016 Page 5 of 9 Councilmember Stolzmann stated the City currently gets 51 % of its sales tax revenue and 41 % of our consumer use tax from this corridor. She stated that not adding 300 units of housing to this area is not a significant impact on that market. She supports the plan as it is now. She noted the current Plan decreases the amount of office space from what could be built today. She stated more fiscal work could be done but it doesn't seem necessary. Even if it is not a $41 M impact it will be a significant positive impact. The corridor has a great many positives right now and there is an opportunity to make it very successful if we are patient. Councilmember Leh stated the business community has submitted comments in support of some residential growth in the area and asked Planner Robinson if these comments were considered. Planner Robinson stated there was input early from the business community, but it has diminished towards the end of the process. Most of them asked for more mixed-use and residential in the corridor. Generally, most of their desires are not reflected in this version of the plan as it does not take advantage of the residential market or the Bus Rapid Transit system adjacent to the corridor. Councilmember Keany stated he supports the plan without the residential. He stated he doesn't think the area will get the large retail growth projected in the area. He sees it more likely becoming commercial or office. He sees a real need for office in this area over the next 20 years and no need for residential. Mayor Muckle agreed with the land use as proposed in the Plan. Mayor Pro Tem Lipton stated he would like to see more transit oriented development in the area to leverage the new transit systems on US 36. It is not addressed in the plan and will need to be addressed at a later date. Mayor Pro Tem Lipton asked if there were any changes to building heights in the areas adjacent to existing residential. Planner Robinson stated at this time there are the same residential protections that currently exist. Mayor Pro Tem Lipton would like something in the Plan that is strongly worded to make residents more comfortable and assure that the design guidelines will protect the existing neighborhoods. Mayor Muckle asked additional language about landscape and setback buffers next to residential areas be included in the guidelines. Councilmember Loo agreed with Councilmember Keany that it is unlikely we will see high levels of retail, but the City will get office. She added that removing residential will not mean less traffic, particularly if office is built. That said, she supports the plan as currently proposed, although reluctantly as it may limit future choices for the area. Mayor Muckle asked for public comments. Audrey Debarros, 839 West Mulberry Street, stated she knows there is concern about adding residential in Louisville, but of all the areas in Louisville, this is the one area that