Canterbury Station last phase to convert historic buildings to apartments; resident questions on timeline, traffic and construction

A combined preliminary plat and site-plan application for the final phase of the Canterbury Station subdivision would convert three existing historic buildings to multifamily apartments and add townhomes and multifamily units on adjacent lots under a historic preservation overlay, city staff and the applicant said.

Chris Mariga of Harris Mariga, representing the applicant, said decisions made at prior level-1 historic-preservation review require retaining the three existing buildings and preserving an open front yard from Market Street to those buildings. Mariga said new development will be concentrated around the site perimeter, using existing alleys and road connections, and that multifamily units are proposed adjacent to TJ Middle School. He said the application has not yet been tested for Adequate Public Facilities (APFO) and that APFO tests for water, sewer, roads and schools will be completed as part of this application.

A nearby resident, Jacob, asked several questions about timing, traffic and construction. City staff and the applicant explained the anticipated schedule: roughly seven to eight months to get through subdivision and site-plan approvals to a planning commission hearing, another eight to 10 months to produce construction and improvement plans, then permitting and grading — yielding an approximate 18–24 month period from application to the start of construction for some components, depending on approvals. Mariga said construction sequencing and fencing details have not been finalized and that construction traffic plans would be developed later; staff said the applicant should work with project managers to clarify staging and stockpile locations.

On traffic, Mariga said a traffic study has been prepared and is under review by the city traffic engineer. He said changes in nearby road connections over time have altered trip patterns and that Canterbury’s obligations include widening, sidewalks and turn-lane improvements on North Market Street as part of the development; staff said other planned frontage improvements in the area may also affect traffic and that the city’s capital improvement program includes traffic-calming projects in the vicinity.

The applicant did not commit to a specific construction manager role for the townhouse lots and said the developer, Duffy, may either build or sell lots to other builders. On dust and sediment control, Mariga said standard soil conservation and sediment controls will be required and temporary stabilization and watering are part of construction sequencing to mitigate dust.

No formal decision or vote occurred at the Neighborhood Advisory Committee meeting; staff said this application will proceed to planning commission review and historic-preservation commission review as required by the overlay.