Commission approves site plan for Godfrey Orthodontics, grants fenestration exception and requires private stormwater agreement

The Nibley City Planning Commission approved the commercial site plan for Godfrey Orthodontics, a proposed 3,000-square-foot orthodontic office at 325 West 3200 South in the Richland Park neighborhood commercial zone.

Staff presented the site plan, architectural renderings and landscape plans. The primary façade facing 3200 South would have approximately 45% ground-floor fenestration (windows and glass), short of the 60% minimum in the city’s commercial/institutional design standards. The applicant submitted a written justification asking the commission to approve an exception, citing energy-efficiency and clinical privacy considerations. Staff reviewed the landscaping, parking and utilities and recommended approval subject to conditions.

Staff counted 14 parking stalls adjacent to the building (12 were required under the applicable parking rules at the time the application was submitted). The site complies with the city’s water-wise landscaping standards. Construction drawings had been reviewed by the city engineer and public works; staff’s recommended conditions included that (1) any future development of the adjacent undeveloped portion of the site be subject to additional site-plan review, and (2) a private stormwater agreement be recorded against the property and required bonds and engineer cost estimates be provided prior to construction.

Commissioners discussed the fenestration exception and the design, with several commissioners expressing support for the design and the building’s materials. The commission unanimously approved the site plan by a 4–0 vote, with the stated conditions.

Provenance: The site-plan discussion begins with the item introduction ("discussion and consideration for the commercial site plan review and approval for the ad free orthotics 325 West 3200 South") and concludes at the recorded vote block ("4 in favor, 0 opposed").