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Chair Allen replied that Commissioner Balch was correct on not being consistent, but <br />this is also a PUD, and a PUD has a different threshold. She indicated that given that <br />the concerns about parking is becoming more prominent, she is trying to protect the <br />parking spots and is looking at what parking the project eats up factually, based on <br />some parameters; and that is how she came up with seven spaces that the project <br />loses. <br />Commissioner Balch asked how many spaces the applicants are allocated as their pro <br />rata share compared with all the other businesses in the area, because if there is <br />parking available on the street, then one or two get to park on the street because they <br />are, in fact, Downtown. <br />Chair Allen noted that the study shows that the parking is almost at capacity. She <br />stated that she was Downtown twice earlier, and the street was filled up; there was only <br />one spot available. She indicated that she wants at least five spaces. <br />Commissioner Balch stated that he agrees that parking is an issue. <br />Mr. Weinstein stated that staff is absolutely and definitely as cognizant as the <br />Commission is of the parking issues Downtown; it is a serious issue and the City is <br />undertaking a parking study to hopefully resolve some of the parking issues that people <br />have raised Downtown. He added that staff is definitely aware as well that this is a PUD <br />and gives a little more flexibility in terms of prescribing the development regulations on <br />the site for this project. He indicated that staff is not comfortable with going beyond the <br />five spaces primarily because the Code as currently written is pretty clear in dictating <br />that changes in use in existing commercial buildings that are older than five years <br />cannot be taken into account. He pointed out that looking at in -lieu parking fees for five <br />spaces is already going quite a bit beyond Code requirements for at least some of <br />those, because there is no explicit regulation in the Code that allows payment of in -lieu <br />fees for on- street or removal of on- street parking spaces. He added that staff can see <br />the argument for asking for in -lieu fees for the on -site parking spaces, but because of <br />the relatively clear direction in the Code related to the change in uses that occurs in <br />these older buildings and the provision of parking for those uses, staff would not be <br />comfortable recommending going forward for in -lieu fees for more than the five spaces. <br />Commissioner O'Connor requested clarification of staff's statement that the current <br />Code requires that the applicants have to pay in -lieu fees for two spaces. <br />Mr. Weinstein replied that is a reasonable interpretation. He reiterated that the Code is <br />a little bit unclear and ambiguous, but staff feels that Section 18.88 of the Municipal <br />Code would lead to that conclusion. <br />Ms. Harryman stated that she comes from a little different perspective than <br />Mr. Weinstein but to the same conclusion of five spaces as being the maximum. She <br />indicated that she does not see the seven spaces; that three spaces are being lost on <br />the street due to the driveways is pretty clear to her, so in -lieu fees for those are fine. <br />She further indicated that two spaces being removed because of the garage being <br />removed is a little less clear to her, and her read of the Section 18.88.080 of the <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, November 18, 2015 Page 20 of 34 <br />