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Planning Commission questions Chase Bank site plan parking, dumpster placement and color palette
Summary
Commissioners and staff reviewed a proposed single-story Chase branch with drive-thru and raised issues about excess parking triggering pervious-surface rules, a dumpster location, and a dark brick color that staff said conflicts with code.
A site plan for an approximately 3,333-square-foot single-story Chase Bank with a drive-thru (SDP-18-15-2025) prompted discussion about parking counts, stormwater and material standards during Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting.
Staff said the PD requires 12 parking spaces for the financial-institution use, while the applicant proposes 29; the Unified Development Code (UDC) requires that any parking exceeding 125% of the minimum be constructed with pervious material and that parking beyond 150% of minimums require a parking-demand study. Staff said a parking-demand study must be prepared and submitted prior to Planning Commission approval if the proposed stalls exceed the UDC thresholds.
“Approval of the site plan should be contingent on the BOMA approval of the 2022 modification,” staff said, referencing a plan-development modification from 2022 that added drive-thru allowances and that requires a procedural remedy with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA).
Applicant representative Nick Madonia of Kimberly Horn said earlier plan development materials showed 25 provided spaces on a conceptual plan and that the current design includes 29 spaces. He asked staff and commissioners to consider the history of the plan development approval while the city resolves the procedural oversight noted by staff. Staff and commissioners reiterated that the UDC standards apply in the absence of an approved PD modification and that the applicant could pursue a parking-demand study or seek an amendment to the PD.
Commissioners also raised two operational and design concerns: a dumpster enclosure that is partially unscreened at the rear, and the proximity of some parking stalls on an adjacent lot (Lot 3, Starbucks parcel) that were approved with an angled layout and could back into the bank drive aisle, creating potential conflict points with drive-thru lanes. Commissioners suggested the applicant consider angling the bank’s parking to reduce conflict with the adjacent angled stalls.
Material and color selection for the building exterior drew comment. Staff noted black brick veneer is not allowed in the PD or UDC as a color choice; the applicant said Chase prefers natural earth tones and darker browns but will coordinate with staff on an acceptable palette compatible with adjacent parcels.
Staff said the outstanding items include: a parking-demand study or a PD modification approved by BOMA, clarification of setback lines on the plan, addressing dumpster screening at the rear, photometrics for the monument sign and other plan corrections prior to final approval.
