Lusco's construction altered for drainage; town requires modified site plan before next inspection

Town planning staff told the Board of Aldermen on Jan. 7 that construction work at Lusco's Steak House in the Plein Air development has diverged from the approved site plan and the next inspection has been withheld until a revised site plan is submitted and approved.

Planning Consultant Judy Daniel reported she noticed the front elevation of the building was higher than on the approved plan and that concrete steps had been added on the west elevation. Building Officer Scott Allan and Town Engineer Jeff Williams told the planner they had not been notified of those changes and agreed that proper procedures were not followed. As a result, the building will not receive its next-stage inspection until the owner submits a revised site plan showing the elevation changes, required railings, and an ADA ramp to connect to the Town sidewalk.

Owner Rhyine Long explained in an email that repeated flooding of the foundation forms during storms led the foundation contractor to raise the finished floor "to a minimum grade to overcome the drainage issues" so water would drain around, rather than through, the building. Long said he was hospitalized when the contractor raised the foundation and the contractor proceeded without his prior approval. Long wrote he will submit an ADA ramp design that uses brick columns, wrought-iron railing and curbs and said he would submit handrail plans for the added steps. He also said the owners plan to restore and reuse a historic neon Lusco's sign; the sign may require a size variance.

Planner Daniel told the board the Site Plan must be modified and approved by the Planning Commission before the project can proceed past the withheld inspection; in the meantime, construction may continue until the next inspection is required but no occupancy or final approval will be granted until the modified plan is approved. Daniel said she will update the board on the sign and any variance requests at the next meeting.

The board did not vote on the Lusco's matter; the action at the meeting was administrative direction to require submission and approval of the modified site plan.