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Developer proposes seven mixed-income units at vacant Walnut Street building; commission recommends approval with alley-access conditions
Summary
Applicant John Hershey presented plans to convert the long-vacant Walnut Street building into seven mixed-income units with six off-street parking spaces accessed from Alley 98; the traffic commission recommended approval subject to vehicle-size limits and building-protection conditions to be finalized during land-development review.
John Hershey presented a land-development plan to the commission to convert the long-vacant building on West Walnut Street into seven multi-family mixed-income residential units and proposed six off-street parking spaces accessed from Alley 98.
Hershey described retaining the brick portion of the building, removing a 1964 loading addition, returning an on-street parking space and creating six off-street open-air spaces, including one accessible space. He said the alley access would remain 10 feet in the public right-of-way but be widened to 15.5 feet on private property to provide turning room, preserve an existing honey locust tree and reduce impervious coverage. "We are planning to transform it into 7, multi family mixed income residential units," Hershey said.
Ben Hogan, public works engineer, told the commission staff had reviewed turning diagrams and recommended approval of alley access but flagged concerns about vehicle navigation and the potential need to restrict vehicle length. Hogan told the commission staff had proposed a note on the land-development plan restricting vehicles accessing the parking area to "16.5 feet in length or shorter" or adding compact-vehicle signage or protections such as bollards to protect the adjacent building.
Hershey said the compact parking arrangement is typical of the urban context and that residents would be expected to use assigned spaces on a daily basis; he agreed to finalize notes with staff. Commissioners recommended approval, asking that conditions related to vehicle length, signage and adjacent-property protections be resolved during the land-development process with city-engineer sign-off.
The commission's recommendation moves the plan into the formal land-development process; final approvals and any required construction will be handled administratively and through the city's standard permitting and plan-review procedures.
