Council approves Laurel & Pine conditional rezoning for five townhomes with conditions on screening and garbage corral

Planning staff presented an amended conditional rezoning for the project formerly called Pine & Laurel. The applicant described a revised plan that reduces prior approvals (from a hotel to townhomes, then down to five units) and showed renderings and site plans; staff noted parking, stormwater detention and sprinkler requirements.

Architect Matthew Jones told the council the slightly taller peaks were a design choice intended to "break up the facade" and make a less boxy appearance, and said "we could probably make it within the 35 feet, and it would be a more boxy design." He said an alternate compliance path would be to reduce roof slopes but that current design choices pushed some portions above the 35-foot limit to 37'3" peaks.

Council members pressed the applicants on materials and street-level fenestration: planning staff reminded the council of a prior ordinance change limiting stucco on Main Street and reiterated a 50% windows-and-door requirement on certain ground-floor street elevations. A resident asked whether stucco would be removed; the applicant said stucco would be minimal and could be substituted.

A motion to approve the conditional rezoning passed after the council attached conditions requiring a garbage corral (location and corral screening to be shown on final plans) and additional landscaping on street-facing sides to reduce visual impact. The council recorded unanimous "aye" votes by Kat, David, Melissa and Doug. Planning staff will work with the applicant to finalize elevations, fenestration and screening details before building permits are issued.