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APC gives affirmative recommendation for 15‑story Chauncey mixed‑use PD amid parking and safety questions
Summary
The commission recommended approval of a 15‑story mixed‑use planned development (Bowdoin Z‑2988 / LV Collective) in downtown West Lafayette, 11‑yes to 4‑no, after debate over parking ratios, bed counts and fire/egress; the case goes to West Lafayette City Council for final approval.
The Area Plan Commission on Oct. 15 recommended approval of a proposed planned development (Z‑2988) for a 15‑story mixed‑use building on the north side of State Street in downtown West Lafayette. The petitioner, LV Collective, plans up to 289 residential units (maximum of 828 beds reported in the presentation), about 5,500 square feet of ground-floor retail, and amenity spaces including a rooftop terrace and Level‑3 game lounge.
Staff supported the PD as consistent with the West Lafayette downtown plan and noted that the project sits on a block identified for high-density development. The petitioner said the site is a walkable, transit- and bike-oriented location and that the project would provide covered bike storage (220 spaces referenced elsewhere in the meeting for a different petitioner but the developer described similar bike-oriented accommodations).
During the hearing commissioners pressed the developer on a number of technical points: parking supply (the proposed ratio was notably lower than some existing downtown projects), the relationship between unit count and bed count (the applicant identified a maximum of 828 beds), fire-safety systems and emergency egress for a building of this height. The developer said the building will be Type I construction with full sprinklering, standpipes, two stairwells, four elevators and a fire pump; the city fire department has been involved in review.
Commissioner Larry Levrens described the scale as “huge” relative to nearby smaller buildings but did not oppose the architecture itself; proponents said the tower mirrors the scale called for in the downtown plan. The clerk announced the roll call as 11 votes in favor and four opposed; the APC’s affirmative recommendation will be forwarded to West Lafayette City Council, which is scheduled to hear the case on Nov. 3.
No construction approvals have been granted at this stage; site plans, parking arrangements and final life-safety systems will be reviewed during final plan and building-permit review.
