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Planning board reapproves expired site plan for 320 Martin Street with conditions
Summary
The board unanimously reapproved the final site plan and design review for a five‑story mixed‑use addition at 320 Martin Street, subject to compliance with city department comments and a one‑year approval period with possible extension.
The Birmingham Planning Board unanimously reapproved the final site plan and design review for 320 Martin Street on Jan. 20, restoring an expired approval for a five‑story addition to the historic Birmingham post office building.
Planning staff summarized the project as a five‑story addition comprising first‑floor retail, building lobby and garage area, two floors of office space, and two upper floors with six residential units and a rooftop use. The design team emphasized materials intended to complement the adjacent historic building, with brick, limestone accents and glazing meeting downtown overlay standards.
A major change since prior approvals is the parking arrangement. Earlier designs included an automated underground parking system (previously up to about 52 automated spaces). The current plan includes on‑site parking totaling 18 spaces—still exceeding the parking required for the residential units—and a valet-operated lift system that stores vehicles on a below‑grade platform. Architect Kevin Bittison and Sam Surno of the Surno Company said the lift/elevator system is user-friendly, residents can operate it if necessary, and the valet is intended as a convenience and operational option.
Board members asked for clarification about residential floor plans and parking implications; the applicant agreed to provide residential floor plans for staff review. Planning staff recommended reapproval with two conditions: compliance with city department requests and acknowledgement that site plan approval will be valid for one year and may be extended under Article 7, Section 7.28.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the planning department findings and reapprove the final site plan and design review subject to those conditions.
