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Commissioners debate step‑back and 50‑ft height allowance for mixed‑use buildings on Market Street
Summary
During the MRC code workshop commissioners discussed allowing mixed‑use buildings and Market Street frontages up to 50 feet high with a 10‑foot upper‑story step‑back above 35 feet, weighing design benefits against construction cost and alternatives such as a smaller step‑back.
Commissioners at the Chehalis City Planning Commission workshop considered how the draft MRC code regulates building height and the upper‑story step‑back intended to preserve neighborhood character while allowing taller mixed‑use buildings.
Staff described the draft approach: residential‑only buildings would be capped at 35 feet while mixed‑use buildings and buildings fronting Market Street would be allowed up to 50 feet, provided an upper‑story step‑back (drafted at 10 feet) occurs above 35 feet. That combination provides a height bonus to encourage mixed‑use development while adding a visual setback to reduce perceived bulk.
Commissioners noted a common tradeoff: step‑backs add design and construction cost and are unpopular with some architects but produce visual relief and a more articulated street edge. Commissioners discussed alternatives such as a smaller step‑back (for example, 5 feet) to retain some design benefit at lower cost. Staff observed that 50 feet corresponds roughly to a four‑story commercial structure and that the proposed standards already create a built‑form incentive for mixed‑use projects.
No formal decision was taken. Staff said the step‑back and height language can be adjusted before public hearing, and the commission will hear public comment during the scheduled hearings.
