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Applicant seeks rezoning for five‑unit Monroe Street project, says units will be affordable and single‑story
Summary
David Friswell presented a conceptual plan to resubdivide two lots at Monroe Street and East Castle into a five‑unit, single‑story multifamily building he said would target rents below the local average (applicant cited ~$1,000–$1,500 targets). Commissioners asked about parking, setbacks and trash; staff said rezoning is required and design would be refined if the use is supported.
An applicant seeking permission to reconfigure two lots at the northwest corner of Monroe Street and East Castle Street presented a concept for a single‑story, five‑unit multifamily building designed as small, accessible workforce housing.
"I want to build affordable housing," David Friswell told the joint workshop, saying the proposed building would be all brick, single‑story and suitable for elderly or handicapped renters. He said the total building area would be about 3,500 square feet and that a typical 2‑bed unit would be roughly 750 square feet.
Friswell told the group he expects to be able to rent 2‑bed units for about $1,500 and 1‑bed units for less; he contrasted those figures with recent downtown units renting for $2,400 that he said are not "accessible for a lot of people." He said he is not seeking public funding but rather the permission to use the site for five smaller units rather than the three larger units allowed by right.
Commissioners and staff questioned parking, service logistics and compatibility with nearby suburban residential zoning. The applicant’s early site sketch showed ten parking spaces for eight bedrooms; Friswell said layout is preliminary and that experience from his other local small multifamily properties suggests fewer cars onsite overnight. He also said he is open to a dumpster or cart enclosure to address trash collection concerns.
Staff said the primary prompt for the workshop was that the parcel is zoned RD (residential duplex) and that the proposed use would require rezoning; the body provided conceptual feedback but no formal action was taken.
