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Commission backs rezoning and conversion of 601 Wythe Street to 18 residential units, approves encroachments
Summary
The commission recommended Council approve a rezoning from CDX to CRMUX, a special use permit and encroachment approvals to convert a former office building at 601 Wythe Street to 18 residential units. The applicant offered a voluntary contribution to the Housing Trust Fund and neighborhood leaders supported the conversion.
The Planning Commission on Oct. 9 voted unanimously to recommend City Council approve a rezoning and related approvals to convert the existing office building at 601 Wythe Street into 18 residential units.
Sam Shelby of Planning and Zoning explained the proposal would rezone the property from CDX (Commercial Downtown) to CRMUX (Commercial Residential Mixed Use) and allow balconies and minor exterior changes needed to meet on‑site open space requirements; the building height and footprint would not change. Shelby said the CRMUX zone aligns with the Old Town North Small Area Plan’s emphasis on conversions and mixed uses and helps reduce the site’s nonconforming status under older FAR rules.
The applicant offered a voluntary housing contribution to the City’s Housing Trust Fund that would be paid prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Melissa Kennan, vice president of the North Old Town Independent Citizens Association, spoke in support and praised façade improvements and the addition of retail on adjacent blocks consistent with the small area plan.
Kenneth Wier, an applicant representative, said the applicant intends future hotel development on another block in the larger site plan but that 601 Wythe’s conversion was an appropriate, smaller‑scale reuse. The commission voted 7‑0 to recommend approval of the rezoning, the special use permit for the multi‑unit dwelling, and the encroachment requests that would allow new balconies to encroach into the right‑of‑way.
Ending: The recommendation advances the conversion to City Council with a voluntary housing contribution in the record and supportive neighborhood comment. Council will consider the rezoning, SUP and encroachment approvals in subsequent hearings.
