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Commission approves Twice the Ice vending kiosk on Lauer Street overlay, grants waiver for glazing requirement
Summary
The commission approved a small ice-vending kiosk on North Lowry Street with landscaping and technical conditions and granted a waiver from the Lauer Street overlay transparency (window) requirement.
The Planning Commission approved a site plan and a requested waiver for a small ice-vending structure proposed by Twice the Ice on CSX right-of-way near North Lowry Street on June 5.
Mitch (planning staff) described the proposal as a compact building (the applicant’s submittal listed the vending structure at 216 square feet) to be sited on an easement obtained from CSX; staff noted vehicular use area, landscaping and handicap parking requirements. The site plan showed 4 parking spaces including one accessible space; staff requested minor landscaping revisions to meet the Lauer Street Overlay (LSO) plant-size and species lists and an adjustment to meet van-accessible ADA stall dimensions.
Mitch said the Lauer Street Overlay requires transparency (glazing) for commercial first-floor facades — a standard that typically expects a large percentage of visible storefront glass. Because the vending machine building has little practical space for first-floor glazing, the applicant requested and the commission approved a waiver from the transparency requirement. Staff noted the applicant had secured an easement from CSX for the machine and a curb cut on North Lowry Street already existed.
A commissioner said the proposed structure "looks a lot better than what's there today" and the commission granted approval with standard technical comments; the motion included the waiver of the transparency requirement. Commissioners asked the applicant to revise the landscape species and initial planting sizes to conform with the LSO standards and to adjust the ADA stall to van-accessible dimensions.
Why it matters: The item tests how design-overlay requirements are applied to unconventional, very small commercial uses; the waiver indicates the commission is willing to allow discrete departures from overlay rules for compact, nontraditional structures when other site criteria are met.
Next steps: The applicant must address the staff comments on landscaping, ADA stall dimensions and utilities before permits are issued. The waiver and site-plan approval do not change the underlying overlay policy, which remains in effect for future, larger commercial projects.
