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1 <br /> Planning Commission Meeting Minutes <br /> June 19, 2012 <br /> Item 3: Public Workshop on an Amendment to Off-Street Parking Standards in the Hewitt Avenue <br /> Corridor east of Broadway Ave. <br /> 8:37:30 PM <br /> John Jimerson, Planning Department,stated that there was a workshop was scheduled a couple months <br /> ago and this was the second workshop on the proposal. He presented an updated map of the area that <br /> limited the area to the properties abutting Hewitt Avenue between Broadway and 1-5. The second <br /> amendment would not allow a change of use where the new parking would have required more than <br /> 200%of what the previous use required. In large part,that regulation would be difficult to administer. <br /> He distributed a letter submitted by Clair Bunny regarding her parking concerns on the lack of available <br /> on-street parking in front of her building and that they do experience parking wars. She was concerned <br /> that reuses of property that generate more need for parking without providing additional parking spaces <br /> would increase the impacts to business owners. He asked if there were any questions. <br /> 8:41:28 PM <br /> CommissionerJordison asked about Ms. Bunney's statement regarding parking wars. Mr.Jimerson <br /> responded that she indicated that she does have parking for her business behind the building, but her <br /> neighbors do not. He was not sure if her private parking area was being used by customers of other <br /> businesses or whether the nature of the parking wars was regarding the on-street parking. She lives <br /> outside the area and was not able to attend the workshop. <br /> 8:43:10 PM <br /> Commissioner Chase asked what the extent of public outreach was for the area. Mr.Jimerson <br /> responded that the property owners were notified of the Planning Commission meetings, and that there <br /> were no specific meetings held with property owners. <br /> 8:43:37 PM <br /> Commissioner Adams asked if there could be abuse under the way that the regulations are currently <br /> drafted by having multiple changes of uses over time. He then asked if there could be some kind of look <br /> back provision, so that multiple changes of uses would not lead to an abuse of the current code. <br /> Commissioner Murphy stated that he had also mentioned that concern at the last meeting and <br /> wondered if that had been considered. Mr. Giffen responded that the original request for the <br /> amendment originated from a City Council member who made the analogy to the B-3 zone which <br /> currently does not require any off-street parking for non-residential uses. The council member felt that <br /> would encourage occupancy of buildings in that area of Hewitt Avenue. Mr. Giffen responded that <br /> Planning staff do not review changes of occupancy and only check business licenses to make sure the <br /> use is allowed in the zone which makes it difficult to track. The regulations would allow the changes of <br /> uses but would not allow an expansion of a building without providing additional parking,that the code <br /> would require. The regulations apply to existing buildings only. The intent is to create more flexibility <br /> for some of the older buildings on Hewitt Avenue. <br /> 8:51:41 PM <br /> Chair Sosin asked why the City wanted to process this as a code amendment instead of extending the <br /> downtown B-3 zone into the Hewitt Avenue area. Mr.Giffen responded that the Comprehensive Plan <br /> designation does not support a B-3 zone in that corridor,so the City would have to go through a <br /> Comprehensive Plan amendment which is a lengthier and more involved review process. Chair Sosin <br /> asked how the B-3 zone would affect the area differently than just amending the parking standards <br /> alone. Mr.Giffen responded that the standards would be different such as the floor area ratios,the <br />