Hearing officer continues conditional‑use request for event center at 1595 N. Freedom Blvd.; parking and safety concerns cited

Hearing Officer Dustin Wright continued a conditional‑use permit request for a reception center and periodic handmade craft market at 1595 North Freedom Boulevard after city staff and neighbors flagged unresolved parking, circulation and safety issues.

Nancy, a city planner, told the hearing the property is in the CG General Commercial zone, the building was constructed in 1978 and has been vacant for a period; it previously housed automotive‑related businesses. The applicant seeks a conditional‑use permit (SLU 6299) to hold a handmade craft market three times per year and otherwise operate the building as an event space. Nancy said the permit recommendation included conditions: the business obtain the proper business license and cap event capacity at 88 people because the site currently has 22 parking spaces.

Applicant representatives said they are negotiating with neighboring businesses for shared parking and a pass‑through to improve circulation. Steven Isaacson, who identified himself as with the architect’s office, told the hearing they are “working with some of the neighboring businesses to see if we can get some shared parking.” Richard Bingham said the plan would require restriping and a pass‑through with the neighbor to allow a one‑way circulation pattern out of angled stalls.

Neighbors urged the commission to deny or delay the permit. David Alders, speaking on behalf of the Carterville neighborhood, said he had received more than a dozen emails and that “the unanimous decision of this neighborhood is we do not need another event center in that part of the Parkerville neighborhood.” Alders raised parking overflow into residential streets, late‑night noise and safety problems when nearby venues operate simultaneously. Shelley Jensen, a nearby resident, said patrons would be able to reach the rear alley and property from parked cars and voiced concerns about past late‑night problems at a different event center, theft and traffic speeds near homes.

Wright asked detailed questions about the parking layout and circulation, noting angled stalls with a single direction of travel raise safety and access concerns. He said the municipal code requires one‑way circulation for angled parking and asked the applicant to provide a written agreement with neighboring property owners, a restriping/parking plan that meets circulation and parallel‑parking requirements, and a landscaping plan that satisfies site standards. Wright said those items should be resolved with staff before returning to a future hearing. He formally continued the item.

Nancy also reminded attendees of noticing rules: residents within 500 feet receive mailed notice for public hearings and signs will be posted at the property.

The transcript records no final vote or permit grant; the item was continued for further work on parking, circulation, landscaping and a shared‑parking agreement.