Millcreek council reviews first reading of rezoning for 14-unit development at 4317 South

Millcreek — The Millcreek City Council heard a first reading March 24 of ZM-24-14, a proposed rezoning of a nearly 0.9-acre property at 4317 South from R-18 single-family to RM multifamily to allow a 14-unit residential complex made up of an eight-unit condominium building and six townhomes.

City planner Carlos Espadillo told the council the proposal includes two triplex buildings and a condominium building, 35 feet maximum height, about 40% open space and 35 total parking stalls (including garages and guest spaces). "The proposal is 14 total residential units within 3 buildings," Espadillo said while summarizing the development agreement staff drafted to lock in unit types, setbacks and materials.

The nut graf: The item is a first read. Staff and the planning commission recommended approval contingent on a development agreement; the item will return for final council action at a subsequent meeting. Council members and neighbors used the first-read hearing to press for clarity on design, parking and ownership restrictions and to flag how the city's future land-use map bisects several lots along the 70 East corridor.

Espadillo said the western portion of the lot lies in the city's Mixed Use 1 future land-use designation, which supports medium-density infill along 700 East, while the rear portion is designated Neighborhood 1 for lower-density single-family homes. He noted some neighboring parcels are split similarly and said staff plans a corridor-level review of the future land-use map later this year. The applicant intends to subdivide the development into individual lots and create a homeowners association.

Neighbors attending an earlier neighborhood meeting and the Millcreek Community Council raised concerns about the concentration of multifamily units on the 730 East side of the site; the community council vote on the project was split. Espadillo told the council the planning commission, after requesting refinements, recommended approval unanimously on Feb. 26 based on the development agreement currently under negotiation.

Council members asked technical questions about unit mix and parking. Espadillo said the condominium block includes one three-bedroom unit, three two-bedroom units, three one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom ADA unit; the condominium garage would provide 19 regular stalls and one ADA stall while the townhomes would have two-car garages (12 stalls) plus three guest spaces. He said the applicant provided more parking than the minimum code requirement.

Several council members asked staff to add deed-restriction language or CCR provisions to preserve owner-occupancy and prevent the entire building being purchased and converted to rentals. The applicant present said a restriction that fully prohibited rentals would be objectionable; the developer offered instead to discuss a compromise in the CCRs allowing a limited share of units to be rented. Council members asked staff to return with specific deed-restriction language for council consideration.

Because this was a first read, council took no final vote. Staff said the item will return for a decision at a subsequent council meeting after the development agreement language is finalized and after additional review of the future land-use map for the 700 East corridor.

Ending: The council closed the discussion by asking staff and the applicant to refine the draft development agreement — including owner-occupancy language — and to return with a second reading and action at a future meeting.