Zoning board approves reduced parking for Bay City Housing Commission's Columbus Avenue project

The Bay City Zoning Board of Appeals on March 10 approved a parking variance for the Bay City Housing Commission's Columbus Avenue affordable housing project, voting 4-0 to allow a reduced number of off-street spaces on the O1 parcel.

Bill Phillips of the Bay City Housing Commission told the board the proposed development will be deed-restricted affordable housing and that residents of similar properties average substantially less than one vehicle per unit. "Affordable housing has a very defined target population," Phillips said, adding that his agency's portfolio averages range from about 0.54 to 0.85 spaces per unit. In the packet the applicant provided a unit mix described as 21 one-bedroom, 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom units; Phillips also said the O1 parcel will contain about 60 dwelling units and that the applicant proposes 63 parking spaces on that parcel versus an ordinance-calculated requirement of 110…