AgdaPkt 2015-09-28 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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Subsequent to the Planning Commission approval, the application was appealed by three parties. The following report is purposely thorough and provides a detailed response to each point in all three appeal letters. The attached Planning Commission report provides greater project details. As detailed in this report, City Council has ample grounds to deny the appeals and uphold the approval of the Project. This report also contains an Alternatives section, which puts forth two project alternatives for Council consideration. The first alternative, which is a smaller version of the project than the Planning Commission approval, was recently submitted by the applicant. This new proposal was the result of a settlement agreement with one of the three appellants (Geoffrey T. Carr). Staff also presents a second alternative, which would allow the Council to state specific project objectives (different height, architectural style, etc.). These objectives could then be used to guide the redesign of the building, prior to future Council consideration. Throughout the following report there is one common theme: the Downtown Precise Plan and associated Environmental Impact Report are detailed, well thought-out documents that allow the Council a broad range of discretion during the implementation phase. For example, the DTPP allows for a range of heights (35’ -136’) varied architectural styles and a number of building disposition types. As shown in the analysis section below, the Project approved by the Planning Commission, as well as the alternative projects proposed at the end of this report, fit within this envelope of discretion. ANALYSIS Project Description Summary: · Nine stories above ground (112’), two underground levels of parking · Neoclassical architectural style with design cues from the historic courthouse · 129,235 s.f. of office area (within the DTPP office MAD Cap) · 270 of the required 388 parking spaces on-site (2.1/1,000 parking ratio or 70% of the required parking being met onsite). The applicant would pay an in-lieu fee of $2,950,000 ($25K per space) for construction the public spaces in the Downtown area. · Bicycle storage room with shower facilities · Tower building disposition type with two requested guideline deviations · Ninth floor terrace Appeals of the Planning Commission approval were filed by three parties (collectively, Appellants): · Geoffrey T. Carr, July 10, 2015 (withdrawn September 16, 2015 pursuant to a settlement agreement, described below) 7.A. - Page 3