The Lawrence Historic Resources Commission on July 17 voted to approve a temporary, restricted parking use at 1041 New Hampshire Street for up to three years, while also issuing a comment to the planning commission and city commission discouraging permanent surface parking at the site. The commission approved the certificate of approval for the temporary lot despite finding that the proposal does not meet the downtown design guidelines because of extenuating circumstances.

Lynn Braddock Zollner, historic resources administrator, told the commission the site sits in the downtown urban conservation overlay and the downtown plan anticipates a multi-story structure at this corner. "With the downtown design guidelines ... this property is meant to have structure. It is not meant to be a parking lot," she said. Staff recommended a temporary approval because the property owner says it will take two to three years to develop the site.

Steve Miceli, who plans to operate the lot, told the commission his intent is to maintain the lot and keep it restricted rather than leaving it vacant and unmanaged. "If someone does not control it, it will be used as parking by the general public. There will be no control. It will be trash," Miceli said; he described prior experience maintaining a nearby lot and said he wants to keep the site tidy while a permanent plan is developed.

Commissioners expressed multiple concerns: the proposed surfacing and lack of landscaping do not meet downtown design criteria; engineering staff has raised questions about drainage and the lot's tendency to become muddy when wet; and alley access is complicated because the adjacent alley is one-way and used by commercial vehicles. There was also discussion that the lot would not operate as public parking and that use would be limited to Miceli's and other authorized users. The commission noted that an enforcement or renewal process will be needed at the term's end.

Action: Chair Joy Coleman moved a certificate of approval for temporary use limited to three years; the motion passed by roll-call vote (Commissioner Buchanan: aye; Commissioner Klein: nay; Commissioner Stan Hearnley: aye; Chair Joy Coleman: aye). The commission then voted to approve the project despite nonconformance with downtown design guidelines under extenuating circumstances (same roll-call result); finally, the commission agreed unanimously (4-0) to forward a comment to the planning commission and city commission stating that the downtown plan and design guidelines support a structure at this location rather than long-term surface parking.

Staff said engineering review and the special use permit process may change site access and surfacing requirements; the commission placed emphasis on making any approval temporary and on ensuring a timely permit renewal discussion if the lot remains in use beyond three years.

Provenance: Staff presentation, applicant remarks (Steve Miceli), and the commission's roll-call votes are recorded in the public hearing transcript.