Commission approves special site plan for 280‑unit District Point project with 71 workforce units; staff to ensure unit dispersal

The commission approved Resolution No. 286‑25, granting framework approval for a special site plan and variances for a proposed 10‑story, 280‑unit multifamily project by District Point LLC at the northwest corner of Belvedere Road and Mercer Avenue. The applicant proposed 71 workforce housing units (eight more than required by the density bonus), an FAR variance to 1.46 (code maximum 0.75 for the site’s base land use), and side‑setback variances tied to the 100‑foot building height.

Urban Design Studio’s presenter described site access improvements, including activating an existing 50‑foot city right‑of‑way for a northern access point, expanding Mercer Avenue sidewalk to 12 feet, and a 622‑space parking garage (654 total spaces provided). The workforce units will be offered at city‑established affordability levels (mixture of 80%, 100% and 120% AMI) with a minimum 30‑year affordability period; applicant said units would be dispersed through the first seven stories but commissioners sought greater distribution across all floors.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on unit distribution and precedent; the applicant and design team agreed to move at least seven of the additional workforce units to the top three floors and to ensure dispersal across the building. Eric Schneider (principal planner) said staff found the variances and special‑site criteria were met and that final site‑plan approvals and agreements would capture dispersal and affordability terms. A motion to approve Resolution No. 286‑25 carried unanimously.

The commission’s action authorizes staff to finalize remaining site‑plan clarifications and agreements, including the workforce‑housing agreement that will specify unit distribution, affordability period and related obligations.