DRC continues West Kelly townhome sketch plan amid grading, tree and screening concerns

Planning staff presented a sketch plan (P26‑0164) for an 18‑unit townhome development at 150 West Kelly. The applicant described the layout—two five‑unit clusters on Kelly Avenue, a two‑unit duplex on Glenwood, and workforce units along the alley—and said the project proposes 31,242 square feet of market floor area and 7,200 square feet designated as deed‑restricted workforce housing.

"This is a sketch plan submittal for 150 West Kelly... an 18 unit townhome development with 12 free market units and 6 deed restricted workforce units," staff said. Committee members praised the approach to putting parking internally to prioritize pedestrian experience but expressed detailed technical concerns: the grading between buildings (roughly a 4‑foot drop over a 40‑foot gap in places), whether walkways would require steps, and whether the proposed screening (metal rails and perforated screens) reads as overly transparent or 'chain‑link' in renderings. Several members asked for alley elevations, clarified where workforce units are accessed, and requested updated calcs for bike-substitution in landscape credits.

Given the outstanding issues—grading studies, more detailed elevations (including alley elevation), planting choices and clearer screen material details—the committee voted to continue the sketch plan for further development and resubmission (motion to continue passed 5–0). Staff will compile comments and send them to the applicant for the next submittal.