The Planning and Zoning Board on an affirmative voice vote approved two variances that will allow an applicant to convert a long-vacant restaurant site at 1300 North University into a new restaurant operation with fewer parking spaces and narrower interior parking islands.

The applicant sought a variance to reduce the minimum required parking from 48 spaces to 23 and a separate variance to reduce interior parking-island widths from 10 feet to 6.5 feet. Board members discussed site constraints and the impracticality of meeting the full current parking standard given the building footprint and lot size.

Applicant testimony identified the property as the former Humberto’s location and said tenants who followed the restaurant had altered the site, reducing the original parking layout; the applicant said the proposal is for an Italian restaurant with a mix of takeout, delivery, catering and some dine-in service. The applicant said the operation would typically have about three employees on site at one time.

Planning staff told the board the site cannot reasonably accommodate 48 spaces once required improvements are included. Board members asked about the length of vacancy (applicant said the prior tenant closed in 2023) and about employee parking patterns. No public opposition was recorded.

Member LeBatte moved to approve the variances under the city’s procedural category C; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote (recorded as "Aye" and "Motion passed"). The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript for either motion.

The approvals are limited to the variances described; no building permits or site-plan approvals were recorded as issued in the hearing. Any subsequent building, landscaping or signage changes will be subject to separate review and permitting as required by city code.