Planning commission takes first look at TC Millwork mixed‑use PUD; no vote taken

Planning staff and the applicant team presented an introduction of Planned Unit Development application 25‑PUD‑01 for the property at 1032 Woodmere Avenue during the May 6 meeting. The presentation was informational only; no formal action or vote was taken. A public hearing is required and was tentatively scheduled for the commission’s June meeting.

The developer (TC Millworks) proposes a mixed‑use project with four buildings on one foundation: a commercial anchor on the south end and three residential buildings north of it, with subterranean parking accessed from Carver Street. Staff noted the site’s constraints — railroad right‑of‑way, a curving property line, multiple front setbacks on Sheffer, Carver and Woodmere, and airport approach height limitations affecting the southern commercial building.

Public benefit elements the applicant offered include paving and converting a currently unpaved section of Sheffer Street into a city‑standard street with on‑street parking and a proposed nonmotorized trail connection to the Boardman Lake Trail. Planning staff described the Sheffer Street paving as intended to improve emergency access, snow removal and event parking. Staff also said the project team had worked with fire, airport and other city departments and that the PUD draft identifies deviations from base zoning (mainly footprint and setback exceptions) that would be authorized if the PUD is approved.

Applicant and project details: Tim (applicant representative) described the project as the developer’s preferred mixed‑use model and said the team engaged multiple city departments through design team meetings. Tim said the proposal seeks to set a quality “tone” for the Sheffer corridor and that the retail anchor aims to activate the Boardman Lake loop. The renderings presented show three‑story residential buildings; commissioners discussed the possibility of permitting a fourth story in some buildings to increase density if the developer can meet design and financing needs.

Environmental and parks questions: Commissioners asked for more detail on tree removal, stormwater, riparian buffers and how proposed work would connect to city‑owned Lakeside Pavilion parkland. The applicant said the pavilion and lakefront trees are on city property, that final tree‑removal or buffer decisions would be made through city agreements, and that the team had engaged the Watershed Council and other consultants about stormwater and riparian health. The applicant said they intend to meet or exceed city canopy/landscape requirements and that on‑site parking is largely underground to limit impervious cover.

Traffic, access and approvals: The project would not be cleared for construction by PUD approval alone; subsequent permitting and construction drawing review would follow. Staff recommended commissioners consider whether they want the option for up to four stories on the residential buildings (base zoning permits up to four stories in parts of the site depending on location and airport approach constraints) and noted that a PUD establishes a development baseline that travels with the land.

Next steps: The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing (scheduled for the June meeting) and can then make a recommendation to the City Commission; final permits and construction approvals would follow detailed engineering and code review.