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Planning commission recommends denial of event-venue plan at 1195 Schuler Avenue over parking, neighborhood concerns
Summary
The city planning commission recommended denial of a conditional-use application to convert the first floor at 1195 Schuler Avenue into a community event venue, citing a lack of off-street parking, neighborhood opposition and several variance requests.
Lauren Nelson, the city’s director of planning, told council on May 14 that the Planning Commission reviewed a conditional-use application for 1195 Schuler Avenue — a mixed-use building in the East End zoned R-3 — where the applicant proposed a first-floor community event venue with a maximum occupancy of 100. The application included four variance requests to the zoning code: a 100% variance from off-street parking requirements, landscaping variances, facade-material variances for the front entrance, and window-transparency variances.
Nelson said the building has no off-street parking; the applicant reported outreach to a nearby church and school about potential parking arrangements but provided no written agreement at the time of the Planning Commission hearing. Nelson said three residents spoke at the Planning Commission meeting and two others submitted written comments — all five expressed opposition. Residents’ concerns included parking spillover into narrow neighborhood streets, noise and hours of operation.
"Planning Commission took action and recommended denial of this conditional-use request," Nelson said, adding that the off-street parking variance was the most significant factor behind the recommendation. Council members asked whether the downstairs had been renovated; Nelson said the upstairs unit had been renovated and the first floor had not yet been converted.
Why this matters: The proposed venue would allow private and community events, with on-site alcohol service allowed as part of private events. Planning staff and the commission concluded that the requested variances were too extensive for a residential block and that a venue with up to 100 occupants risked filling neighborhood streets with parked vehicles.
The council did not vote on the permit; the Planning Commission’s recommendation of denial will be part of the record if the applicant requests further review or appeals.
