Planning commission recommends conditional approval for 16‑story riverfront mixed‑use at 301 Front Street

The Downtown City Planning Commission on May 13 recommended approval, conditioned on staff and agency comments, for a proposed 16‑story mixed‑use building at 301 Front Street that would place residential units over a multi‑level parking podium and add ground‑floor retail and riverfront pedestrian connections.

Planning staff and an independent urban‑design consultant (Goody Clancy) reviewed the design and emphasized that, although the project’s height will contrast with adjacent 2–6 story neighborhoods, careful treatment of the first several floors can preserve pedestrian scale and neighborhood character. Staff highlighted one key design suggestion: convert portions of Floors 3–6 at the northeast and northwest podium corners from non‑transparent storage/utility uses to active uses (residential units or offices) to create transparency and life at the street and park edges.

The applicant team said it will provide requested material and engineering clarifications. Planned project features include a green roof for stormwater treatment and on‑site bicycle storage; the project team also proposed a 20‑foot easement to create a pedestrian connection at the end of Chu Street down to the riverfront.

Commissioners asked for additional detail on the riverfront pedestrian treatment, roof mechanical screening, and ground‑floor retail module sizes to support small local businesses. Staff also asked the applicant to eliminate or underground some overhead wiring where feasible because lines constrain tree canopy and street tree growth. After discussion the commission made a recommendation of approval conditioned on meeting the city comment letter and the urban‑design recommendations; staff will continue detailed review of engineering, traffic and public‑realm specifics.