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DRC reviews Invitation Cove townhomes; staff stresses alley lighting, garbage access and fire‑turning clearance
Summary
The committee reviewed a major development plan for 43 rear-loaded townhomes (Invitation Cove) in the downtown mixed‑use district. Staff reiterated requirements that units face a named street, alleys use street-style lighting, garbage collection pads be provided for end units, and fire‑access turning templates meet city standards.
The Development Review Committee on April 16 considered Invitation Cove, a major development plan for 43 townhomes in the downtown mixed-use zoning district. The applicant team was represented by Kim Fisher; community‑development staff and public‑safety reviewers participated in the discussion.
Staff noted the project is a rework of a previously approved apartment proposal and emphasized consistency standards for townhome development: units that front a named street, alleyways that receive street-style lighting (not solely building-mounted lighting), and alley geometry that accommodates service vehicles. Kim Fisher confirmed the homes are rear-loaded with alleys providing garage access and said the applicant will address staff comments as the project advances.
Public-works and fire reviewers raised practical concerns about alleys and service access. Staff asked the applicant to provide concrete collection pads for garbage service behind specific end units (the applicant indicated proposed pads behind Lots 9 and 36), to show turning templates that reflect the city's fire-truck dimensions, and to avoid designing alleys that create dead-end shortfalls for service vehicles. Staff also confirmed that on-street parking is unlikely to be practicable on Monroe Avenue given geometric constraints and that the alleys should be lit with street lighting rather than relying on building-mounted fixtures.
City staff requested the applicant maintain the previously approved left-turn lane location that had been used for a prior proposed development on the site; the applicant indicated it will use the same turn-lane layout. Staff and applicant also discussed cross-access to adjacent commercial properties; the applicant said previous requests for a cross-access easement to the adjacent plaza had been refused in earlier negotiations.
The committee did not take a formal vote; staff asked the applicant to return with revised plans showing alley lighting, garbage‑collection pads, fire-truck turning templates (applicant to use the city's specified truck dimensions), and the agreed turn-lane configuration.
The applicant and staff agreed to continue coordination on garbage placement, alley geometry and service access in advance of construction-plan submittal.
