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Planning commission recommends bonus height for 400 Main Street but seeks reduced unit count or non‑city parking
Summary
The commission recommended that the common council grant a bonus‑height special permit for a five‑story project at 400 Main Street but asked that the developer either limit units to 34 with self‑contained parking or secure non‑city off‑site parking to avoid using public parking resources.
Developers and their consultants presented updates on a proposed five‑story, up‑to‑41‑unit project at 400 Main Street and requested a bonus height determination. The presentation included modeled views from Route 9, a stormwater detention and infiltration system intended to keep garage floors above projected FEMA elevations, and options for providing the parking needed to support a 41‑unit building.
Tony Castillo of SESI Consulting Engineers said the design includes an on‑site underground detention chamber and features intended to manage runoff from the hillside; he said the lowest proposed parking floor "will be above" projected FEMA elevations. Commissioners focused discussion on parking impacts to downtown businesses and neighbors, construction staging and tree preservation. The commission voted to recommend the council grant the special permit and bonus height but added a recommendation that the project either be reduced to 34 units with on‑site parking or secure close‑proximity non‑city parking so it does not rely on the city lot.
