Committee approves conditional-use conversion to banquet hall; planning director exemption removes need for off-street parking variance

The Land Use and Transportation Committee recommended favorable Thursday on a conditional-use bill to convert a West Baltimore Street building into a banquet hall and event space, finding an administrative parking exemption applied to the property.

Sponsor Councilman Isaac (Bullock) said the applicant would repurpose an underutilized building to provide event space serving the community. Planning staff told the committee that because the structure dates to 1915 and has never provided off-street parking, the director of planning had administratively exempted the property from off-street parking requirements under the zoning code provision cited in the hearing (a provision identified in the transcript as “16-6-01F” for structures 50 years old or receiving historic tax credits). The Planning Commission reviewed the matter Sept. 18 and the director’s administrative exemption was noted as the reason no off-street parking variance was required.

Michelle Toth of the Law Department confirmed legal sufficiency for the bill and noted that the council should make a finding of fact that the parking exemption had been granted administratively; the committee adopted the factual finding. Applicant counsel described the proposed use as a banquet/event hall; planning staff estimated occupant loads would be determined later in permitting and that an event capacity in the order of “50 to 100” people was anticipated during council discussion.

The committee approved the bill and adopted the finding of fact that the parking exemption had been granted; the bill will be reported favorable to the full City Council at the next meeting.

Status: recommended favorable with planning director’s administrative exemption for parking recognized as a finding of fact; the bill will be forwarded to the full council.