Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plan modification reduces density, adds larger age-restricted units at Vine Street Station
Summary
Developers and trustees discussed a second major adjustment to convert the former Zion Lutheran school into seven larger age-restricted housing units, reduce density and change parking and site elements; trustees agreed to move the item to second reading for final approval next meeting.
The board on Monday heard a first reading for a second major adjustment to the Vine Street Station planned development at 125 S. Vine St., a project that would convert a former Zion Lutheran Church school building to age-restricted housing.
Chair Stifler summarized the proposed changes: the development’s approved unit count would drop from 12 to 7 — comprised of two four-bedroom units, two three-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units — and unit sizes would increase to as much as 2,754 square feet. The change increases minimum lot area per unit from 2,220 to 3,805 square feet and reduces maximum units per acre from 19.6 to 11.4. The developer also proposes 22 parking spaces (versus 11 required by code), which the applicant and trustees described as improving the neighborhood parking situation.
Drew Mitchell, a project representative, said removing the property from the FEMA flood plain altered mechanical and parking designs and enabled use of the lower level. Mitchell said the market has shown demand for larger units and that the team expects the first move-ins about one year from now. He added, “we have a 3 to 1 parking ratio on these units,” reflecting the project’s parking plan.
Contractor Craig Ross described site changes including a lowered courtyard wall, added landscaping to screen utilities, a generator for common areas, a change in window type to European tilt-and-turn for ventilation and egress, and a guardrail atop a new concrete retaining wall. Ross and Mitchell discussed photometric concerns: because the building entrance is very near the property line, exterior lighting for safety may exceed the 0.5-foot-candle maximum at the immediate property line; they said illumination levels meet code once across the street.
Chair Steve Cashman of the Plan Commission and Stifler indicated they had reviewed and signed off on the adjustment and recommended it proceed directly to second reading rather than returning to the commission. Trustees indicated consensus to move the matter to a second reading and vote at the next meeting; no final vote was taken Monday.
