Planning commission recommends PUD rezoning for West Academy infill with conditions

The Charlestown Planning Commission on Sept. 23 voted to recommend that city council approve a Planned Unit Development rezoning for a 0.81-acre infill site on West Academy Street. The commission conditioned its recommendation on the applicant meeting the PUD open-space minimum of 20% and adding a mountable curve or similar edge treatment opposite the sidewalk to discourage on-street parking.

Planning staff summarized the proposal as one detached single-family home, nine townhomes, a new public street and sidewalk connections. "This applicant again proposes to rezone the 0.81 acres of land to plan unit development so that they can build, 1 detached home, 9 town homes, a road, and some limited open space," staff said during the meeting. Staff noted the applicant’s initial sketch plan shows about 19% open space and said adjustments to lot lines could raise that to the required 20%.

The applicant described design and infrastructure elements included in the sketch: stepped townhome facades, roughly 20-foot-deep driveways for rear-loaded units, five visitor parking spaces and a public street built to public construction standards despite a narrower right-of-way. The applicant said the project also proposes additional street trees and a small central open space with play equipment as an amenity; "we're doing the $500 fee in lieu as well per unit as well," the applicant said when explaining open-space options.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on parking and drainage and asked staff to require engineering-level details at the preliminary plan stage. After public comment raised concerns about overflow parking, tree protection and traffic speeds on Anne Street, Commissioner S2 moved to recommend approval with conditions; the motion passed unanimously among the three commissioners present.