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Plan commission amends landmark conditional-use permit to allow conversion from triplex to quadplex with conditions
Summary
The commission approved an amendment to a 2010 conditional-use permit for a landmark property on Black Avenue to allow conversion of a triplex into a four-unit building, with landmark review for exterior changes and a required opaque trash enclosure.
The Eau Claire Plan Commission on July 14 approved an amendment to a 2010 conditional-use permit allowing the conversion of a historic triplex (the former Bolton House) into a four-unit building, subject to conditions including Landmarks Commission review of exterior changes and installation of a screened trash enclosure.
City planner Ned Baumgartner presented the application, saying the original 2010 permit included three conditions: Landmarks Commission approval for any exterior changes; submission of a site plan with screening; and a stipulation that the total number of bedrooms not increase. The applicant proposed to reconfigure one second-floor three-bedroom unit into a two-bedroom unit and a one-bedroom unit — a change Baumgartner described as preserving the overall bedroom count while adding a fourth rental unit.
Baumgartner recommended retaining the original conditions. He noted staff had lost some original paper site-plan records over time but that photographs show existing screening and that the property currently has 11 parking stalls. "Condition one is standard for any landmark property," Baumgartner said, and asked the commission to require an opaque trash enclosure where the property currently has exposed cans.
The applicant, Edward Garlick of EDJ Rentals, said the exterior work he expects — including roof repairs after a recent storm — would be submitted to the Landmarks Commission and that the neighborhood appeared supportive after he spoke with residents. "We're converting this to make it a more efficient apartment complex," Garlick said.
Commission discussion focused on the Landmarks Commission review, parking requirements (which are calculated on a per-bedroom basis and therefore unchanged by the unit split), and clarifying a typographical error in the findings of fact that misidentified the proposed unit sizes.
Motion and vote: Commissioner Brewster moved to approve the amendment with the recommended conditions; Commissioner Reid seconded. The roll call vote recorded Commissioners Brewster, Davis, Lawson, Reid, Zoid and Chair Helgeson voting aye. The motion passed 6–0.
Conditions attached to the approval require Landmarks Commission approval for any exterior changes requiring permits, submission of a screened trash enclosure meeting the standards described by staff, and adherence to the bedroom-count limitation in the original permit. The staff report noted that any future proposals to change bedroom counts would be subject to further commission review.
The commission closed the item and moved on to other agenda items.
