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Commission recommends approval of 275‑unit West End building with large affordability commitment and a parking reduction
Summary
The commission recommended Council approve a 275‑unit development at Duke Street Block D that includes a substantial set‑aside of rent‑restricted units and a requested parking reduction. Staff supported the proposal citing transit access, a nearby hospital workforce, and a previously approved CDD infrastructure plan.
The Planning Commission on Oct. 9 recommended City Council approve a development special use permit and site plan for Duke Street West End Block D, a multi‑unit residential building proposed by Landmark Land Holdings LLC.
Maggie Cooper of the development division presented the DSUP. The project proposes roughly 275 dwelling units, an 82‑foot building height, and requested a parking reduction (the project would provide about 210 spaces where the standard requirement is approximately 327). “Staff is supportive of this parking reduction for a number of reasons,” Cooper told the commission, citing an oversupplied existing garage in the redevelopment area, a high share of rent‑restricted units (about 80 percent of units are proposed as rent‑restricted, approximately 220 units), and proximity to a future transit center and the Inova hospital campus.
Staff also reported stormwater and infrastructure work for the larger coordinated development district (CDD #29) addresses districtwide drainage; for this specific site staff said the on‑site stormwater design achieves a phosphorus reduction roughly 55 percent greater than required.
Commissioners discussed parking, affordability, architecture and construction materials; Vice Chair Koenig asked staff to clarify how long‑term affordability reporting would be delivered and suggested the Office of Housing be the recipient of ongoing records. Commissioner Ramirez recused because of a family connection to the applicant. The commission voted to recommend approval of the DSUP and site plan with revised conditions and an October 2 memo included in the record; the motion passed 6‑0 (recusal: Commissioner Ramirez).
Ending: The project proceeds to City Council with a strong staff recommendation and a substantial rental affordability commitment; the record contains staff conditions and an explicit reporting requirement for affordability data.
