14 - Laserfiche WebLink

The Commission asked the applicant to account for the trash enclosures within the site design. The was also some discussion about a parking turnaround on-site. Project Modifications Since the Planning Commission workshop in August, the applicant has proposed project modifications intended to further improve the design of the project and address the concerns of the Commission. Of note, the following was modified: • Parking. The lift was reduced from two spaces to one, relocated from an open-air location among the surface parking spaces on site, to instead be within the carport (reducing its visibility). The list is now assigned for use by the residential unit, rather than the tenants of the commercial space as previously proposed. • Design. The site design was modified slightly with respect to parking as noted above; it was also modified to account for the necessary trash cans for both the residential and commercial space. The building design was also updated to enhance compatibility with the commercial building on-site. ANALYSIS Consistency with General Plan The subject lot has a General Plan Land Use designation of Retail/Highway/Service Commercial Business and Professional Offices. Mixed-use development in the Downtown, where residences are located behind commercial uses, is allowed in this land use designation. Further, some policies in the General Plan Land Use Element encourage housing downtown including the following: Policy 9: Develop new housing in infill and peripheral areas which are adjacent to existing residential development, near transportation hubs, or local -serving commercial areas The General Plan also notes the maximum floor area ratio (FAR) is as specified in the Downtown Specific Plan, 300 -percent. The project is consistent with the General Plan Land Use designation. Consistency with the Downtown Specific Plan The subject lot is within the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) area and has a land use designation of Downtown Commercial. DSP Policy LD -P.20 notes that ground -floor residential is permitted at this location if the following are met: • Street fronting commercial space is required, with a maximum building depth of 50 feet to ensure viable commercial uses- Project complies; • Re -development sites have no net loss of commercial square -footage- Project complies, • Corner lots maintain a commercial character on secondary frontages to the maximum extent feasible- Not applicable; • Residential at the rear of the site is designed to minimize visibility from the commercial street -front- Project complies, described further below; P20-1053, 218 Ray Street Planning Commission 4of11