Commission orders more review after public alleges live-work conversion amounts to housing

Staff presented a memo about 1250 Missouri Street, noting a pipeline classification error that had reported the site as residential rather than commercial-industrial. The current request involves condominium conversion and subdivision plans originally tied to a withdrawn live-work permit. Staff told the commission the project sponsor is amenable to removing kitchens and restoring plans to the approved scope, and staff will continue to reconcile plan differences before returning to the commission.

Public commenters, including project applicant Sue Hester, said the project as now proposed could yield 36 units and urged the commission to set a hearing and fully review documents. Neighbors and community speakers charged that the Planning Department and building inspectors have sometimes allowed ad hoc changes to proceed without full routing to the commission and that the public has been disadvantaged by changes to permit-reporting tools.

Commissioners asked staff for a fuller review of records, including approvals from 2001 and how the project moved through zoning and building-permit stages. Several commissioners suggested scheduling an informational hearing prior to any action so commissioners and neighbors can fully digest the file. Staff said it would continue discussions with the sponsor and would consider stop-work orders or targeted suspensions of permit portions if necessary.