BZA approves reduced parking for mixed‑use building after stormwater reconfiguration

The Board of Zoning Appeals voted to reduce required off‑street parking for an existing mixed‑use, multi‑tenant structure from 137 to 113 spaces after the applicant said stormwater and flood‑proofing changes removed previously available spaces.

Representative Ben Mullins told the board the parking lot had been restriped and several spaces were later found to encroach into city right‑of‑way; updates required for stormwater compliance reduced additional spaces. Mullins said converting the site to provide the full current parking minimum would effectively require demolishing the existing building and reconfiguring the site, which was not reasonable. He described the property as over‑parked for the likely future use mix but under the strict counting rules for mixed tenancy.

Engineering staff explained the applicant was required to install stormwater measures as part of building improvements; that work eliminated some encroaching spaces and required reconfiguration. Board members asked whether underground detention or alternate stormwater solutions were practical; engineering said underground detention had been considered but a geotechnical study showed inadequate infiltration requiring storage that would be costly and difficult on site.

The board approved the variance, noting the reduction applies while the building remains a mixed‑use, multi‑tenant structure and that a future change of use or large‑scale remodel could trigger a new parking review.