Darius 14th Street application withdrawn for revisions; parking standard ambiguity cited

City planning staff told the Planning Advisory Board on Aug. 13 that the applicant for the Darius 14th Street (Darius) project has requested withdrawal of its Technical Review Committee application so it can revise plans in response to city comments.

At the meeting, resident Pat Smadley told the board she was concerned about ambiguity in the Land Development Code about whether parking requirements for Live Local projects fall under Chapter 7 (zoning/parking) or Chapter 6. “We as citizens need an answer on this matter of parking requirements for Live Local immediately,” Smadley said.

Margaret (planning staff) said a legal interpretation determined the applicant’s parking calculations were incorrect and that the applicant told staff verbally it would withdraw the application to make revisions. Planning staff later confirmed in writing that a withdrawal was received (timestamped 03:48), and the TRC will not consider the application at tomorrow’s meeting. Staff said they are waiting for a written request if the applicant seeks an extension, because application timelines limit how long a submission can remain without response.

Staff also clarified roles: Glenn Cromwell said he is serving in a leadership support role for planning while recruitment continues and that staff will be the go-to contact for applicants in Kelly’s absence. Planning staff committed to improving communications around procedural steps and noted that some code provisions already exist that staff can apply while a fuller code cleanup proceeds.

No formal board action was taken; staff said they would circulate any written withdrawal/extension request and follow up with details on parking-code interpretation and next steps for the Darius project.

The board also discussed using the Saddle Road overlay work and the upcoming comprehensive-plan process to incorporate elements of prior overlay work rather than pursuing a separate simultaneous effort.