PC 04/08/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

d. RZ-98-O1/Z-98-19. Mt. Diablo National Bank Application for rezoning from the C-S (Service Commercial) zoning district to the C-C (Central - Commercial) zoning district and for design review approval of a proposed two-story building for which the proposed uses are offices and a bank. The building is proposed to be approximately 39 feet in height and approximately 19,000 square feet in size. The property is located at 992 Main Street between Vervais Street and Stanley Boulevard. Zoning for the property is C-S (Commercial-Service) District. Also consider the negative declaration prepared for the project. Mr. Iserson presented the staff report and described the purpose of the proposed building. He also described the proposed location, noting that the site has been determined to be free and clear of all contaminants. In addition, Mr. Iserson noted that the rezoning is necessary because the current zoning does not allow banks. He stated that the bank would be proposing to use almost 4,000 square feet of the first floor and would lease the rest of the first floor and all of the second floor. He explained that the parking lot would be to the rear of the site and ATM machines would be on Vervais Drive at the end of the building. Mr. Iserson further reported that the proposed site is covered by the Downtown Specific Plan, and the C-C zoning district would be most suitable for the site, most consistent with Downtown, and would accommodate the other proposed uses of the building. Mr. Iserson also stated that the approval would require some street dedication and improvements. At staff s request, the applicant has designed the site to be consistent with the Downtown Design Guidelines. The applicant has also included street furniture and a small pedestrian plaza. It was also reported by Mr. Iserson that the parking lot behind the building would not be visible from Main Street, but would still be conveniently accessible for customers. Mr. Iserson reported that the applicant is willing to dedicate land to handle future traffic and access to the property. He stated that with the improvement of Main Street, the existing dividers will be removed and will be reconstructed to look like the rest of Main Street. However, although the applicant and staff would have liked to include on-street pazking, it will not be possible. Mr. Iserson also noted that there is no need to underground the utilities on this site; therefore, Condition No. 8 on the Engineering staff memo can be deleted. Mr. Iserson reported that the normal office/retail parking requirement is one space per 300 squae feet; however, it is one space per 150 square feet for banks. The applicant has proposed a total of 43 parking spaces, which is 14 spaces short of the requirement. He noted that the applicant has been trying to negotiate with surrounding property owners in order to get more land for parking. However, Mr. Iserson reported that staff feels the parking requirement for banks is outdated, and staff feels there is no need for the amount of parking required by the code. He suggested that the Planning Commission ask the City Council to amend that parking requirement. Mr. Iserson further noted another option for the applicant is to pay the in-lieu parking fee for each space that the project is lacking, and the money would go into a fund to provide public parking lots in the Downtown area. If the code changes as staff has suggested, the applicant would be short only one space. The applicant has suggested that it may be appropriate to consider a reduction in the in-lieu fee if the code changes and since they are doing so many street improvements. Planning Commission Page 21 April 8, 1998