Planning staff briefs DRB on Connect the Junction, Pearl Street design review, Amtrak-station outreach and Spark Hotel opening

Planning staff used the July 17 Development Review Board meeting to brief members on ongoing planning projects and a recent hotel soft opening. The city planning staff said the Connect the Junction transit-oriented development draft master plan is available at connectthejunction.org for public comment, and the consultant has produced a condensed summary that allows targeted feedback on items such as building heights and potential road closures. Staff encouraged board members and the public to review and comment. Staff also said the Pearl Street multimodal reallocation study will present a draft alternative for the block between Sidney Wilson and West Street Extension to the planning commission at its regular meeting on Thursday, Aug. 7. The consultant will seek public feedback on design alternatives. The city is planning public engagement on a redesign of the Amtrak train station; staff indicated materials from the consultant are likely to be before the planning commission on Thursday, Sept. 4, with additional surveys and tabling opportunities to follow. On development updates, staff reported that the Spark Hotel on Pearl Street held a soft opening and that community development staff, led by Community Development Director Chris Yuan, has worked to ensure landscaping and outstanding conditions of approval are completed consistent with the approved site plan. Staff said the hotel parcel was sold to new owners and landscaping work was coordinated with the landscape architect during ownership changes. Staff also reminded members the planning office may resume in-person meetings in mid-August when the conference room becomes available again. No formal board actions were recorded for these items during the meeting; the briefings were informational and directed residents and interested parties to the respective project websites and upcoming public meetings.