Commission approves mixed‑use design review and parking adjustment to allow robotic vehicle lifts on Richmond Street

The Planning Commission on July 10 approved design review and a parking adjustment for a proposed three‑story mixed‑use development at the northwest corner of Richmond Street and Franklin Avenue that preserves two existing brick buildings (including a small jailhouse) and provides 50 parking spaces using an automated robotic vehicle lift system. Project manager Maria Maldonago presented staff’s analysis, describing the site as roughly 17,500 square feet with two existing brick buildings (the small jailhouse at 203 Richmond Street and a two‑story brick building), and a proposed total building area of about 19,312 square feet after additions. The proposal includes retail on the ground floor, office on the second floor and six residential units above. Staff said the project substantially complies with the Downtown Specific Plan design criteria and that the required findings for design review could be made. Because the development could not provide conventional at‑grade parking without affecting the historic foundations, the applicant proposed an automated robotic parking mechanism that stacks vehicles three high and three deep; staff required a peer review of the parking demand study to verify operational performance. The city commissioned a peer review by a traffic engineering consultant (peer reviewer reported as Kimley‑Horn in the project record) to evaluate whether the automated mechanism would provide sufficient parking and not create traffic impacts in the alley or on adjacent streets. Staff summarized the peer review conclusion that the proposed system can supply the required parking for the mix of uses and operate without materially affecting peak‑hour traffic or alley access. Staff recommended conditions that require residents and second‑floor office users to prioritize use of the mechanism and reserve surface parking for short‑turnover retail customers. Applicant representatives described the design intention to preserve the jailhouse and integrate new materials that reflect the Downtown Specific Plan’s “eclectic” character. Developer Mark Telez and architect David Bellion explained that the project preserves the jailhouse and steps new construction back from it, and that the automated system was chosen to avoid excavation that could damage the old foundations. The architect said the design intentionally blends brick, concrete and metal in a contemporary manner to complement the Richmond Street district. Commission discussion focused on character and preservation questions, operational details of the robotic parking system (including user access, how the system retrieves vehicles and whether EV charging could be integrated) and whether the design as presented satisfies the downtown standards. Staff and the applicant clarified that EV charging will be provided at surface spaces and not inside the robotic mechanism, and that residents and frequent users would be trained to use the system via an app. The commission approved the design review and the parking adjustment by a 4–0 vote; staff will finalize conditions requiring demonstrations, operation and maintenance plans for the mechanism and recordation of the approved plans.