Commission approves conversion of motel at 201 Gifford Place into 120 multifamily units, with condition on access signage

The Planning Commission approved with conditions an amendment to a Planned Unit Development that allows conversion of an existing motel at 201 Gifford Place into 120 multifamily residential units.

Staff said the PUD, originally approved in 1977 and amended several times, contains commercial and residential uses and that the site has underlying CS zoning, which permits multifamily adaptive reuse with conditions. The amendment seeks to convert existing motel rooms into permanent residential units within the existing building and does not require major changes to parking or the layout; staff noted the site is a short walk to a bus stop and provides existing shared-drive access via Gifford Place.

Applicant counsel Sean Henry (Better Housing Group) said the group plans to invest about $10 million to convert the property from transient lodging to long-term housing and described the change as a sustainable reuse of existing infrastructure. Neighboring residents offered opposition petitions, saying they had not been adequately notified or consulted and expressing concern about increased density. The applicant said the public notices and signs required by code were posted and that he had submitted a waiver to NDOT where applicable.

Commissioner Henley moved to approve staff recommendation with an additional note asking the applicant to provide clear, appropriately placed access signage to clarify site entry and circulation in coordination with staff; the motion passed. Commissioners and staff noted that the PUD retains shared internal access and that final permitting will resolve minor access or site-circulation details.