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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo from Planningf Projects: City Hall Parking on Idaho (CUP-08-018/ALT-08-016) & New City Hall Parking Facility (CUP-08- 017) NOTE: The ALT application analyzed in the report for CUP-08-018 would not typically require Commission action, it is a staff -level application. However, because the request is not consistent with Resolution No. 07- 583, Staff is requesting the Commission to decide if the alternative compliance request is appropriate in this case. Staff thought it would be appropriate for the decision to be made as part of a public hearing, rather than at the staff level. Location, size of property and existing zoning: The subject properties consist of 1.07 acres and 0.71 acresand are currently zoned O-T. The subject sites are located at 33 E. Idaho Avenue and 641 N. Main Street. Adjacent Land Uses and Zoning to 33 E. Idaho: I. North: Commercial business, parking, library, and church site; zoned O-T 2. East: Commercial businesses/offices; zoned O-T 3. South: Commercial business (bank) and City Hall office; zoned O-T 4. West: Single-family residences; zoned R-8 Adjacent Land Uses and Zoning to 33 E. Idaho: 1. North: City Human Resources and Legal Department offices; zoned O-T 2. East: Commercial businesses; zoned O-T 3. South: Commercial business (coffee shop, Zamzows); zoned O-T 4. West: New City Hall, zoned O-T Applications: The Applicant is requesting Conditional Use Permit (CUP) approval for two surface parking facilities that do not meet the criteria of the Downtown Meridian Design Guidelines. The Guidelines require that surface parking lots be located behind buildings and have landscape screening at the street. CUP-08-018: There is an 8,000 square foot City Hall building on the site with associated parking to the sides, not behind the building, as required by the downtown design guidelines. There are 44 parking spaces currently on the site. The applicant is proposing to re -stripe the eastern portion of the lot to add two addition parking spaces for a total of 46. These parking spaces are proposed to contribute to the total number of required spaces for the new City Hall, which is generally located 200+ feet to the south, and for the existing City Hall building that is to remain. An alternative compliance application has therefore also been submitted. The use of the subject property as City Hall will cease when the new City Hall opens. If the subject CUP and ALT applications are approved, 30 of the 46 stalls will count towards the required spaces for the new City Hall. The remaining 16 stalls will count towards e th required parking for the existing 8,000 square foot building on this site. In addition to the two additional stalls, wheel stops should be added to the parking facility stalls. CUP-08-017: A new City Hall building is under construction to the west of the subject property on the southeast comer of Broadway Avenue and Meridian Road. This application proposes to use the proposed 52 car parking spaces as a parking for new City Hall. If the subject CUP application is approved, the stalls will count towards the required spaces for the new City Hall as required by CZC-07-036. The proposed design does not comply with the guidelines as the parking facility is proposed on the corner of Main and Broadway. Further, the facility is not proposed to have hedges or a fence to screen the parking, as required by the Guidelines. Some trees and other landscaping are proposed around the parking lot, with tree grates along Broadway Avenue and Main Street. ALT-08-016: The two city hall structures (current and new) together total 87,870 square feet. Therefore, by City Code, a minimum of 176 parking stalls total should be provided. As an alternative, a total of 166 parking stalls are proposed to serve both buildings. As allowed by UDC 11-3C-7, the applicant is proposing three alternatives to the standard on -site parking requirements of UDC 11-3C. As an alternative to the on -site parking, or the in -lieu -of parking fee, the applicant is Proposing to use 30 parking stalls at the current city hall site, 33 E. Idaho Avenue. Further, the applicant is Proposing to reduce the required number of stalls related to areas used primarily in the evening (Council Chambers Historic Commission meeting room, and a multi -purpose room total almost 5,000 square feet. These areas are not generally being used from 8 am to 5 pm, but are instead used after hours). Finally, the applicant is proposin to ' g count some motorcycle parking towards the required standard car park requirement. To mitigate the 10 parking stall shortage, and as an alternative to providing standard car parking, motorbike parking is proposed. The applicant believes that in this case it is more appropriate to provide parking as proposed than pay an in -lieu fee. The hours of operation for the proposed use are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A vast majority of the parking for City Hall should only be needed Monday thru Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. After that time, the proposed parking facilities will provide additional public parking for downtown businesses when business is limited and/or when City Hall is closed in the evening and on weekends. Summary of Proposed Streets and/or Access: Access to the 33 E. Idaho site is proposed to remain, with access to/from Idaho Avenue and the alley. Access to the Main Street site is proposed to/from Broadway Avenue and out to Main Street via an alley. NOTE: The City and ACHD are still working on the exact design of the alley out to Main Street. Landscaping: The downtown design guidelines require that surface parking lots be screened with a 3' hedge or fence at the street. No landscape buffers are required in O-T. The 33 E. Idaho Avenue site has existing landscaping and the 641 N. Main Street property is proposing landscaping, but it will not fully screen the proposed parking lot. Staff Recommendation: Staff is recommending approval of the Conditional Use Permits, as presented in the Staff Reports. Notes: