Commission extends review for proposed 112-unit building and event center at 511 West Rowan Ave to December

The Verona Planning Commission voted Sept. 3 to extend the review period for an application proposing a 112-unit apartment building with a 200-person event center at 511 West Rowan Avenue.

Staff told commissioners the application had been continued from the August meeting to allow the applicant to pursue shared-parking agreements with an adjacent church and two nearby hotels. Because the municipal code provides a 60-day review period, staff recommended the commission extend review and action past that 60-day window and set a firm deadline for a recommendation. "Staff recommends the planning commission continue to review and act on the application past the 60 day period identified in section 13-1-2-23 b 5, with the following condition that a recommendation will be made at or before the December planning commission meeting regardless of the status of the agreements," Mr. Severson said.

Commissioners discussed options to secure parking for the proposed event center, including structuring conditional-use approvals so operation would require ongoing shared-parking agreements. The chair noted such a condition could force the city to close the event center if agreements lapse, and acknowledged political ramifications for business operators. Commissioner Powers asked whether the city could later amend approvals if on-the-ground conditions changed; Mr. Severson said the planning commission and council could revisit approvals and issue new permits through the normal public-hearing process.

Commissioner Wood moved — and Commissioner Powers seconded — to continue review past the 60-day period with the staff-recommended condition that a recommendation be made at or before the December planning commission meeting; the motion passed. The extension gives staff and the applicant time to finalize parking agreements or present alternatives before the commission makes a recommendation to the council.