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Commission approves mixed‑use plan at 37 East Granville with conditions
Summary
The Sunbury Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval June 29 of a two‑story mixed‑use site plan for 37 East Granville Street — including two commercial storefronts and two 875‑sq‑ft rear apartments — contingent on an apartment‑size variance, lighting and engineering reviews.
The Sunbury Planning & Zoning Commission on June 29 recommended approval of a major commercial site plan and associated conditional use to allow two apartments at 37 East Granville Street, voting 4–0 on both items with conditions.
The plan calls for commercial storefronts facing the square and two stacked two‑bedroom apartments in the rear, each about 875 square feet. Planning staff told commissioners the apartments are a conditional use in the C3 Central Business District when adjacent to commercial uses, and that although C3 carries no base parking minimum, the applicable R4/R5 standard (two spaces per unit) would effectively apply; the applicant proposes seven parking spaces to meet that requirement.
The commissionaccepted the applicantexhibits and heard a staff recommendation that approval be contingent on three items: (1) the apartment‑size variance to allow 875 sq ft units instead of the 1,020 sq ft code minimum, (2) submission and staff/engineering review of a lighting plan (triggered because the site proposes six or more parking spaces), and (3) completion of any required engineering reviews prior to council consideration.
Resident Harry Bennett urged the commission to address rear alley stormwater and alley maintenance, saying, "It washes down the gravel drive in the back, creates a gully in the gravel up to the catch basin, which actually sits on the back of my property." Commissioners and staff acknowledged the existing drainage and access issues extend beyond the applicant's parcel and said they would flag the problem for further city engineering review and coordination among property owners.
Commissioners praised the buildingarchitecture and street presence while raising tweaks for the final design: clearer side elevation detailing, awnings or eaves for the second‑floor entry, screening for the trash enclosure, and a secure, low‑maintenance surface for the rear access/driveway. The applicant said the design will reuse portions of the prior foundation and will provide a zero‑threshold ADA entry.
The commission's approval of the major site plan and the conditional use is a recommendation to city council; the approvals were explicitly made contingent on the variance approval and completion of required staff and engineering items. The conditional use would be void if the property is later sold and a new owner would need to seek a new conditional use for apartments, staff said.
Next steps: the variance application goes to the Board of Zoning Appeals, and final site approvals will proceed to city council after staff and engineering reviews.
