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Zoning commission pauses deliberation on large PUD along New York Avenue, requests additional design and environmental detail
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Summary
Commissioners praised public participation but raised design, scale, loading, and energy questions about the 183,000‑sq‑ft Jamal Shaffer consolidated PUD; the commission asked the applicant for responses and agreed to revisit the case in January.
The Zoning Commission paused final deliberations on a consolidated PUD for Jamal Shaffer LLC and Jamal's Bumper Garage LLC (ZC Case 20‑411), asking the applicant to supply additional design and mitigation information before the commission resumes.
Commissioners praised the PUD process and ANC involvement but repeatedly pressed the applicant on several points: the project's scale (about 183,000 square feet), the long PDR (production, distribution, and repair) strip along New York Avenue, the number and placement of loading docks (reduced from 19 to 12), and how the building would activate public space. Commissioner Imamura, who read the full hearing record, said the case was "a great example of government working" but asked for supplemental materials on design, parking, renewable energy/green roofs, landscaping, and loading calculations.
Commissioners said they were concerned about compatibility between the proposed PDR frontage and the south phase of the site that will include high‑density residential uses. Several members asked the applicant to show alternatives (phasing, loading reconfiguration, landscape buffers, and renewable energy measures) and to explain the basis for 12 loading docks for a building of this size. Commissioner Imamura requested that the applicant respond by Jan. 16 with materials for ANC review; if the applicant meets that schedule, the commission plans to take it up on the Jan. 29 meeting date, otherwise it will be delayed to February.
The commission did not take a final vote at the meeting. Members agreed the project is close to an acceptable resolution but that the additional materials are necessary to address open questions about streetscape character, energy use, landscape buffering and programmatic certainty for potential tenants.
