Commission supports Les Schwab tire center PDP with two requested UDO modifications

The commission recommended approval of a preliminary development plan for a Les Schwab tire center at 740 Northwest Ward Road on Dec. 11.

Applicant Dan McGee described the proposed 8,600‑square‑foot facility with six service bays, 50 parking stalls (including shared parking), pedestrian connectivity to adjacent Trilogy Apartments and a proposed CMU split‑face trash enclosure. The applicant requested two UDO modifications: allowing 0% glass on the western façade within the pedestrian view zone (because the west side is a private, service area) and permitting 18‑foot light poles in the parking lot where a 15‑foot maximum is normally required within 100 feet of residential uses. Staff (Adair Bright) recommended the modifications, noting that the adjacent Trilogy Apartments already have 20‑foot poles and that the proposed lighting will meet maximum spillover/footcandle requirements.

Commissioners asked about buffering and evergreen screening between the Les Schwab parking/back‑of‑house and the Trilogy Apartments; staff said final landscaping will be reviewed at the final plan or engineering review and suggested additional evergreens could be added to improve screening. Commissioners also discussed sign allowances; staff said the sign request was not part of the PDP package and could be processed separately or continued for review.

After discussion, the commission moved to recommend approval; the motion passed by roll call vote. The recommendation will be forwarded to City Council with the noted conditions and staff caveats on signage and landscaping.