Title
Public hearing to consider the appeal of the Union Park Community Council to a decision of the Planning Commission upholding staff's decision to approve a site plan for an office/warehouse development at 650 Pelham Boulevard.
Body
In 2010, Industrial Equities submitted a site plan for a new 68,000 square foot office/warehouse development located at 650 Pelham (at Wabash). The site plan shows a one-story building with office space and parking on three sides and warehouse space with loading docks on the rear of the building.
When the site plan was originally submitted, the property was subject to the zoning and design standards of the Central Corridor Overlay District. The site plan did not meet these standards and Industrial Equities withdrew their application for site plan review. In June 2011 the Central Corridor Overlay District expired. At the same time some land near the Central Corridor was rezoned to Traditional Neighborhood and new design standards for Traditional Neighborhood zoning were adopted. However, the zoning for this property was not changed to Traditional Neighborhood and the property remained zoned I1 (Light Industrial).
Industrial Equities resubmitted their site plan. The Planning Commission declined to hold a public hearing on the site plan. City staff reviewed the site plan and approved it in July 2011.
On August 1, 2011, the Union Park Community Council filed an appeal with the Planning Commission of staff's decision to approve the site plan. The appeal contends that the site plan is not consistent with the City's plans for the area and that the property should have been rezoned to Traditional Neighborhood. Union Park said the development should be a multi-story building, set up to the sidewalk with the parking lot in the rear. The Zoning Committee held a public hearing on August 25, 2011 and voted 5-0 to recommend denying the appeal and upholding approval of the site plan. The Planning Commission met on September 2, 2011 and voted 15-1 to deny the appeal and uphold approval of the site plan.
Union Park Community Council filed an with the City Council of the Planning Commission's decision on September 12, 2011. A public hearing is scheduled for October 5, 2011.
Required Background Information
Zoning applications fall within the 60 day rule. However, the developer, Industrial Equities, submitted a letter waiving his rights under the 60 day rule. A copy of this letter is attached.
Key Staff Contact
Tom Beach
651-266-9086