Staff presents Friendly Tavern redevelopment as a model minor redevelopment; no commission vote

Planning staff presented an administrative minor site plan for the Friendly Tavern site redevelopment (a minor site plan review) at the May 27 meeting, describing the project as a model of the comprehensive plan’s redevelopment goals.

The proposal calls for replacing several small buildings (including the existing tavern and nearby apartments) with a single, consolidated building that would include five apartments above and commercial space below. Staff and the applicant said the project would elevate the site to meet floodplain requirements, reduce total impervious area from about 34,360 square feet to roughly 22,000 square feet (a roughly 35% reduction), and address stormwater management to meet the county’s current standards.

Applicant representative Bob Travis (BMC Enterprises) told the commission the design will raise finished grades approximately 3½–4 feet so the building will sit above the floodplain and provide more orderly parking and access than the current layout. Staff noted some clarifications were needed in the plan notes regarding floodplain mapping and other minor corrections.

Commissioners asked about ground‑level uses, parking, lighting, pedestrian access, and how future state road widening might affect right‑of‑way. Several commissioners also repeated a long‑standing county concern about preserving land for future road widening when appropriate; staff said they will look into right‑of‑way and state coordination.

Because this was presented as an administrative minor site plan, the planning commission did not take a formal vote; staff brought the project to the commission for awareness and comment and said required state and agency approvals are in progress.