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Council debates infill overlay at 1511 Gambrell, amends and tables; approves first reading for 740 Center Street
Summary
Council considered the planning commission recommendation to deny an infill overlay at 1511 Gambrell Street, amended that recommendation to approve with conditions (vote 6–1), and then voted to table the item for one meeting to allow staff follow-up; a first reading for an infill overlay at 740 Center Street passed unanimously.
The council reviewed planning item 11.7, a recommendation from the planning commission to deny an infill overlay for a 0.39-acre parcel at 1511 Gambrell Street (zone C‑3, tax map 004644‑03‑031). Planning staff recounted the commission’s concerns that the proposal “doesn’t fit the character of the area” and that one lot in the project remained unbuilt and made the commission lean toward denial.
One council member (identified in the transcript as David) said the infill overlay was created to provide flexibility for projects that otherwise would not work under current zoning, and urged the council to favor a business‑friendly approach to encourage redevelopment. “I think we need to have a provision in our code that specifically allows for houses to have, you know, a 1 [foot] setback,” he said while discussing options such as minimum spacing rather than setbacks.
Council debated technical questions including minimum side setbacks (combined total and reductions under the overlay) and whether the applicant could add a neighboring parcel to address fire-rating costs. A motion to change the council’s motion from denial to approval was made and seconded; the amendment passed 6–1 on the council floor. After additional discussion, council members agreed to table the item for one meeting to allow staff to return with follow-up site‑plan adjustments and possible conditions; the motion to table passed unanimously.
Separately, on item 11.8 the council considered a first reading to establish an infill overlay on a 0.15‑acre parcel at 740 Center Street (tax map 004638‑02‑010). Council members complimented the submitted drawings and the first reading passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance: the amendment to change council action on 1511 Gambrell passed 6–1; the subsequent motion to table the item was unanimous. The first reading for 740 Center Street was unanimously approved on first reading.
Next steps: staff will return with follow-up site‑plan details and any recommended conditions when the item is taken up again.
