Developer presents 20-unit workforce-housing sketch plan for East Tenth Street

LR Properties presented a sketch plan on May 14 to subdivide property near East Tenth Street and build five three‑story buildings, each containing four two‑bedroom, two‑bathroom units, for a total of 20 apartments aimed at workforce housing.

Planning staff described the sketch as proposing to re‑apportion parcels between 313 and 329 East Tenth Street to form seven lots, with 30 ground-level parking spaces (including two ADA spaces). The site is in the R-3 medium‑density residential district and is one block south of the Central Business District; the project team said Vision 2035’s goals for neighborhood rehabilitation and added housing informed the plan.

"The project itself ... is design or our target audience in this case is workforce housing, trying to build affordable housing for working people," said Eugene Pinder of LR Properties, who identified himself as the owner and presenter.

Staff highlighted items the applicant must clarify before preliminary plan submission: whether zoning relief will be needed for front-yard setback reductions, how impervious-surface coverage will meet ordinance limits, demonstration of stormwater-management facilities, parking dimensions and required offsets from lot lines, ADA accessible parking dimensions (including one van-accessible stall), and a site landscaping plan with required street trees.

The applicant told the commission the buildings are arranged as "quads" (four units per building) with single-level apartments and that assigned parking will be provided for tenants. "We have a lot of 30 parking spaces for the 20 units ... those parking spaces will be for the tenants only," Pinder said, adding that trash dumpsters will be rolled out to collection points on trash day and that the plan accommodates fire‑engine turning templates.

City engineering staff and the applicant discussed utility connections and permitting. The applicant said the area currently has combined sewer overflows and that the design intends to provide a separate stormwater system that could be disconnected from the combined sewer in the future when a separate storm system is available. The engineer also recommended a full survey and a clear lot consolidation/subdivision diagram at preliminary plan stage so the city can see tax IDs, addresses and the relationship between proposed building lots and common‑ownership areas for parking and amenities.

On ownership, the applicant said the initial phase will be under single ownership and that a building‑owners association would be used to cover maintenance costs; Pinder said some buildings might be sold later. The applicant also said roof leaders will drain to rear parking-area detention features and that a post‑construction stormwater management system is planned.

The sketch-plan presentation generated no formal vote; staff said the comments in the May 7 review memo should be addressed in a subsequent preliminary plan submittal.