Planning Commission Minutes 2021 08 26

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes August 26, 2021 Page3of6 Hoefner asked for an overview of where the GDP was in the development process relative to future steps. Ritchie explained that prior the pulling of a building permit for construction, a development needed zoning which in this case was covered by the GDP being amended here. The next step was a PUD approval which included details on architecture and layout, among other elements. She confirmed that the Commission was not being asked to sign off on the conceptual site plan. Brian Bair, Mass Equities, 7552 N 83rd Street in Longmont, described the community meeting process, which included 50 people over three meetings plus direct contact with HOA leadership. He added that they had spent time with neighborhood groups discussing different concept plans. Bair shared commercial market study results from 2019 that showed that the City was overbuilt and had high vacancy rates. He stated that the statistics were dire within the 1.5-mile radius of the application and stated that they wanted to focus on community -serving commercial development. Bair stated that there was 160,000 square feet of vacant commercial space in addition to the incoming commercial projects that were being built. He stated that the application was consistent with the build in the adjacent area and that it could be denser under regulations but that the community was concerned about traffic. He noted the concern over lack of housing in the area and stated that this would bring new housing to Louisville. Diehl asked about why they did not think that this area would reach the occupancy of the area across the road in Lafayette. Bair replied that the centers of influence closer to Old Town or Highway 36 were more comfortable for commercial and that the current owner had marketed the Foundry program for three years without getting a commercial bite, and that the food hall proposal never got a taker, either. Moline asked how this met the intent of the Small Area Plan (SAP). Bair replied that the SAP was discussed in the neighborhood meetings and he thought the proposal was consistent with it. He gave the example that they had backed off of three stories because the neighborhood wanted it more consistent with the SAP. Moline asked why the applicant was proposing a change to the plan rather than adding a letter of intent to the current Foundry PUD, positing that Mr. Bair would cite the reasons he had already explained in the meeting. Bair agreed and added that the new proposal allowed for a smaller, boutique commercial tenant, whereas the current one was more set up for large food hall and flex spaces. He stated that this area had a more single-family feeling, as well, whereas the current plan was more of a condo product. Howe asked how this development highlighted the gateway of Louisville aspect of the area that residents had mentioned.