Commission hears proposal for three‑story mixed‑use building at 715 Main Street; review continues

The Monroe Planning & Zoning Commission opened a new hearing on May 7 for a proposal to build a three‑story mixed‑use building at 715 Main Street that would combine ground‑floor retail or restaurant space with 21 one‑bedroom apartments above. The application includes two parallel requests: a special development district to permit a three‑story building where the business district maximum is two‑and‑a‑half stories, and a special exception permit for the project.

The applicant (identified in the record as Jason of J. Edwards & Associates) described a roughly 10,000‑square‑foot footprint with retail/restaurant at street grade and separate access to the apartments above. Jason outlined site grading, a septic strategy using onsite tanks and a pump station, and a stormwater retention/treatment system intended to improve an area that currently sheets runoff to the street gutter. “We’re proposing a mixed‑use building,” he said, describing a landscape plan and noting ARB review was forthcoming.

Staff and commissioners asked technical questions about wastewater handling (separate grease‑trap and residential tanks with dual pumps and alarms), and about the need for a traffic study for a project of this size. EMS comments requested elevator access; the applicant confirmed an elevator was included and that the health department and town engineer were still reviewing materials. The applicant said the residential program would be 21 one‑bedroom units (roughly 10 per floor) and that 10 percent — about two units — would be set aside as affordable housing.

Commissioners also pressed for pedestrian connectivity and sidewalks to serve future residents and street‑level businesses. Staff noted the project will undergo ARB review; the commission left the hearings open to May 21 for outstanding agency comments and additional submittals.

No votes were taken on the applications at the May 7 meeting.