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Developers present South Walnut townhouse sketch; commission favors courtyard, recessed garages and landscaping
Summary
Applicants presented a sketch plan for 615–617 South Walnut that shifts parking to alley access with options for recessed garages, a private EV charger and small courtyards. Commissioners praised the streetscape improvements and asked staff and applicants to clarify parking requirements and rear setbacks.
Applicants and the project's advisor presented a sketch plan for 615–617 South Walnut, showing a cluster of townhouse units with alley‑loaded parking, recessed garage openings and a proposed private EV charger. The presentation emphasized making the buildings feel street‑oriented — pulling building faces closer to Walnut Street where practicable, recessing garage doors to create small entry foyers and adding landscaping in the alley to soften the public realm.
Commission member Thomas Doherty led the review and explained the parking layout and scale: the proposal uses an 18‑by‑38 footprint for stacked or attached units and seeks to provide off‑street parking in a narrow rear yard. He said applicants plan modest excavation and installation of a retaining wall so vehicles will sit about two feet off the alley, and that the design also includes space for an EV charger integrated near the garage so cars can be charged securely on site.
Staff and commissioners questioned whether all four rear parking spaces are required for the preexisting nonconforming buildings, noting that two of the existing front houses already rely on on‑street parking. Staff said the zoning review would determine whether the preexisting condition reduces the number of spaces the new work must provide. Commissioners urged the applicant to confirm the lot‑frontage definitions so the commission and zoning board can apply the correct setbacks and lot orientation.
Design comments focused on streetscape and materials. Commissioners encouraged moving buildings slightly forward from the alley to allow more landscaping and suggested a masonry wall and screening for trash receptacles and service areas to preserve a clean presentation on Walnut Street. One commissioner recommended rooftop decks be treated cautiously, favoring enclosed or recessed terraces over projecting decks to preserve the urban feel. Members repeatedly emphasized durable, traditional materials and requested that the applicant include clear elevations and material samples at subsequent reviews.
Next steps: the commission asked staff and the applicant to confirm parking counts and setback definitions, provide a materials legend and return with refined plans; no formal vote was taken.
