PC 082615 - Laserfiche WebLink

Chair Allen stated that the bottom line is to try and get more commercial in there. She indicated that she completely supports the goals of the DTSP and vitality to try and move some of the service businesses that are not really retail- oriented, such as the yoga studio and the beauty salons, the law offices and the insurance agencies, right around the corner as they do not really need a retail storefront. She added that she does not like to give up this piece of property that is the closest thing to Downtown to almost all residential and would like to see a different ratio of commercial and residential. She added that she is not into retail in the back, but a little bit of a different commercial would be fine. She stated that she is open to commercial on the lower level and maybe an artist's studio on the top level. She acknowledge that it will be more challenging for the developer to lease, but it is not unreasonable and totally fits with the Downtown goals. Commissioner Nagler asked Chair Allen if she is suggesting that the retail go to the back. Chair Allen said no, indicating that she is fine with the business building on the front and the commercial building, but she is not fine with the five townhouses, independent of whether they are one story or three stories, being 100 percent residential. Commissioner O'Connor asked Chair Allen what she would propose for the rest of the lot. Chair Allen replied that she would not propose that much with that much FAR on this whole site, but she would go with some more service- oriented businesses with perhaps what looks like a townhouse, a two -story design that has a service business, business on the bottom level and residential on top. Chair Allen stated that she walked the street several times, and most of the homes that are there are single story: remodels and renovation, has band of service in the front and many of them are putting and tucking a home, maybe even two homes, in the back. She stated that she would like to see a little more commercial, although she is fine with not wanting to put more commercial there. She added that she is also fine with going higher on the floor area ratio (FAR) if there's more commercial, but if there is not more commercial, then she would rather just remain with the standard that has been set along that street, which is retail /commercial -like design and one or two residences tucked in the back. Chair Allen stated that in general, she thinks the Downtown guidelines should be followed; she does not see anything so unique about this that the rule for a unique PUD should be broken, when this is closest to Main Street and one can see almost half the property from Main Street. Commissioner O'Connor stated that when he talked about setting this building back a bit, he thinks there is room to make the lower floor a little bit bigger than what it is so that instead of the building being 2,000 square feet, it may be 3,000 square feet. He indicated, however, that parking should be provided on -site, which can be accomplished if the building is moved back. He recognized that it will take up some space away from PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, August 26, 2015 Page 36 of 43