Dublin planning commission approves 75‑unit Bridge Street District apartment with waivers and conditions

The City of Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a final development plan for a four‑story, 75‑unit multifamily building in the Bridge Street District, granting a parking plan and a package of waivers and conditions to allow the project to move to permitting. The project covers a 1.59‑acre site on the east side of Dublin Center Drive and includes pocket parks, a gateway plaza and designated public‑art locations.

Staff recommended approval contingent on conditions and waivers after reviewing design updates and technical tradeoffs. Planning staff summarized the proposal and the requested adjustments, saying the applicant "recommend[ed] approval of the parking plan as proposed before administrative departures, the 15 waivers, and then the final development plan with 13 conditions," and staff and the applicant discussed an additional condition to reassess parapet and mechanical screening if equipment changes. The commission then approved the parking plan, four administrative departures, 15 waivers and the final development plan; the final vote on the FDP carried with one no vote recorded.

The approved plan includes: a 4‑story building with 75 dwelling units; an overall open‑space commitment that staff said meets the minimum 15,000 square feet requirement; a parking plan providing 75 spaces (one per unit) in lieu of a technical requirement staff counted at 88 spaces; and multiple design waivers (including impervious surface coverage). The staff report noted impervious coverage would be about 79 percent where the code maximum is 70 percent, and recommended detailed engineering, stormwater and streetscape work continue during permitting.

Applicant representatives emphasized design and affordability features. Architect Jenna Kessler highlighted sustainability and publicly accessible open spaces, saying the project "is pursuing LEED Silver" and describing the relocated generator enclosure and pocket‑park changes. Owner/representative Dan Schaimen confirmed the affordability and set‑aside commitments, stating that disability units were planned as a 25 percent set‑aside "of the total unit count" tied to financing, and senior preferences were described at roughly 30–35 percent with other units at deeper affordability tiers. The commission recorded conditions requiring continued coordination with engineering, transportation and the Dublin Arts Council on public art and materials.

Next steps: with the commission’s approval the applicant may proceed to building‑permit submittal and engineering review; the commission added conditions that staff and the applicant finalize details on parapet screening, materials for the gateway corner and photometric and stormwater details before permits are issued.