Commission approves private-dormitory use at 306 East Thatch Avenue, grants two waivers

The Planning Commission approved a conditional-use request to allow purpose-built private dormitory units at 306 East Thatch Avenue and separately reviewed two waiver requests tied to the concept. The proposed plan retains the existing front house and places three new buildings behind it; each new unit is proposed as 5 bedrooms/5 baths, with the total project yielding about 20 beds.

Rep. Asquin (Foresight Group) explained that the key distinction for the requested private-dormitory designation is whether private (bed/bath) spaces exceed 50% of a unit; the applicant said the design would keep the existing house intact and place parking and access to the rear. Owner Drew Goodner said the plan was intended to preserve the house while realizing a viable number of beds: "We are looking to have 20 beds and I think permitted by right is closer to 36," he said, explaining the project is below theoretical maximum density.

Two waivers were considered. The first would reduce the minimum first-floor height requirement from 15 feet to 12 feet for rear buildings; the applicant said the lower height avoids classification changes that would trigger wider fire-access requirements. The commission approved that waiver. The second waiver asked limited relief to allow parking to encroach into a 15-foot landscape buffer adjacent to a single-family residence so the redeveloped access could be arranged without forcing removal of longstanding vegetation or creating undue harm to the adjacent homeowner’s access; commissioners debated driveway spacing, existing curb cuts and whether redevelopment rules would ultimately require different solutions. The commission approved a narrowly scoped buffer encroachment waiver (roll-call vote recorded with split votes) while noting that engineering and DRT site-plan review could still require adjustments to on-site parking and curb cuts.

Staff cautioned that a future owner could redevelop, but also noted the commission could place conditions if it wished to preserve the front façade; commissioners discussed the limits of conditioning when property rights and redevelopment options remain available. The applicant affirmed the intent to keep the front house and the existing vegetation as much as possible.

Next steps: Waivers are final if approved by the commission (waivers do not go to council). The applicant must still meet technical DRT/site-plan requirements (driveway spacing, parking counts and fire access) before final permitting.