Board approves design and site plan for 151‑unit Van Buren Street residential project

The Planning & Development Board unanimously approved design and site plan for a proposed 151‑unit residential development at 2718–2750 Van Buren Street in the regional activity center. The applicant, 2750 Van Buren LLC, presented a four‑story building under MC1 zoning with an FAR of about 1.45 and a mix of studios, one‑bedroom and two‑bedroom units.

Carmen Diaz of the City Planning Division presented the file (23‑DP‑12) and said the site is nearly 2 acres, the project does not exceed the allowable height in MC1 (four stories/45 feet) and provides the required parking: 182 spaces in total including guest and handicap spaces. "The applicant is complying with the required setbacks in the front, sides, and rear," Diaz said. She noted landscaping exceeds the 40% requirement and the applicant proposed green areas on ground, second floor amenity decks and a roof terrace.

Developer representatives described rooftop and second‑floor amenities including a pool deck, barbecue areas and a dog run, and said the project places most parking under the building. Several neighbors and residents spoke at the public hearing, expressing concerns about parking, traffic and stormwater; Mark Schubert called the project a “monstrosity” and raised concerns about parking next to neighborhood fences and flooding. Traffic consultant Carl Peterson told the board the study found the project would add roughly 50–55 trips in peak hours and characterized the net traffic impact on nearby intersections as de minimis, noting the area’s walkability. The city engineer confirmed her review found no change in level of service at the studied intersections under the project conditions.

The board approved the design phase and then the site plan with three staff conditions: record a unity of title for the four lots prior to certificate of occupancy; establish a sewer utilities agreement with public utilities prior to building permit issuance; and implement landscape screening for the loading area at the corner of Van Buren and the adjacent avenue to the satisfaction of the director of public utilities and planning. Board members discussed traffic and access location options; staff and the applicant said they had coordinated with traffic engineers and police/engineering reviewers on access, and that vertical clearance and loading provisions were addressed in plan revisions. The board's approvals were unanimous.