Council approves special-use permit for zero lot-line entertainment venue at 14 West Main

The Washington City Council voted April 20 to grant a special-use permit and adopt an ordinance allowing a zero lot-line building at 14 West Main, a downtown corner at Main and Jefferson, clearing the way for an entertainment center with bowling lanes, an arcade and event space.

Planning staff told the council the project requires a special-use permit because the parcel sits adjacent to a four-way intersection and the city's C3 downtown code directs extra review for zero lot-line buildings at such intersections. The staff presentation noted the planning commission's unanimous recommendation and said the fire chief expressed sight-distance concerns that staff will address during building-plan review. "The applicant is requesting a special use permit to put a zero lot line building on a four-way intersection," planning staff said during the presentation.

Developer Kale Griy said he and his design team adjusted the corner geometry after the Planning & Zoning hearing "to put a 45 degree angle on that corner to increase the line of sight." He described a flat-roof, brick-and-stone façade worked with historic-preservation reviewers and said the project team would explore a crosswalk and other pedestrian amenities if feasible. "It does look like that could happen," he said of a potential crosswalk.

Council members focused on two main technical issues: sight distance for emergency-vehicle access and parking. Staff said the fire department's concerns would be handled when formal building plans are submitted and noted that the special-use review is intended to surface those issues. On parking, the developer said he expects to use existing off-site spaces, including about 120 spots at the nearby US Bank lot; staff confirmed that off-site parking may be credited if within 300 feet of the building entrance and with an agreement if the developer does not own the lot. A staff member stated the project's required off-street parking could be on the order of several hundred spaces based on preliminary calculations, and the developer acknowledged his architect had not finalized the parking count.

After public comment and additional discussion, Councilor Chad Briggs introduced the ordinance granting the special-use permit and the council passed the measure on second reading by roll call.

Next steps: the ordinance grants approval for the form of the building and the special-use permit; building permits, final site plans, parking calculations and any required off-site parking agreements will be reviewed and approved administratively as part of the permit review process.