City Council Agenda and Packet 2021 02 02

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By providing new landscaping, a new structure and novel use for the current site, a local amenity will be created that will benefit the adjacent residents, commercial properties and commercial tenants. The food hall use of this project will create its own set of economic benefits for individuals and municipal stakeholders as well: it will increase local property values, provide local jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for local chefs/restauranteurs, all of which will generate increased tax revenues for the City. No less important, although harder to measure in dollar figures, are the amenity benefits that will be available to residents: good food offered in a relaxing and safe place for families and members of the community to gather. Restaurants are more than luxuries for municipalities; they are suppliers of prepared food, and as long as Covid remains a factor in daily life, this one site will provide take-out and delivery options from five different kitchens. The pedestrian/cyclist-friendly new uses, eating, drinking and playing —will encourage longer per person visits to this area, increasing the safety and welfare of the surrounding neighborhood. The majority of deteriorated hard surfaces will be replaced either by new materials or new landscaping. Additionally, that the presence of lighting and operating businesses at the location will make the area safer and cleaner. Finally, this project will significantly improve storm drainage by removing most of the extant hardscape, increasing the area allotted to planting and semi -permeable ground surfaces and the inclusion of a sub -deck rain garden, decreasing surface -managed stormwater while increasing quality of the same and improving site drainage. In contrast, the "as -is" future for this site is exceptionally bleak. Due to the nature of the previous drive -through bank design set in a commercial strip mall, the building is surrounded by traffic lanes on four sides and is constrained by vehicular and utility easements for the adjacent lots on three sides. This leaves minimal room for any site landscape improvements, exacerbates problems with site drainage and severely limits pedestrian/bicycle circulation. Viable commercial uses of the building and site in this condition and layout are therefore highly restricted at best. Removing drive -through lanes and adding new exterior shaded seating areas incorporating permeable pavers and rain gardens along the south and west areas of the property will increase pedestrian access and utilization. Widening the sidewalk and tree lawn and planting new street trees will also enhance pedestrian circulation around the site. This, in conjunction with the relocation of parking spaces around the "back" side, designating some for mobile food court use, and using the shared parking granted by covenant, will 'activate' pedestrian and community use of what is currently an area utilized only for vagrancy, vandalism and the illegal storage of vehicles. 5. Discussion of how the project improves the project property and neighboring properties: By providing a new use and structure for the current site, we will increase available pedestrian/cyclist connections and add pedestrian -friendly spaces, improve the landscaping and aesthetics of the location and create amenities to activate public spaces. Improving the public 3 1 P a g e 39