3A Public Hearing 2007 0507 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Planning Commission Meeting Draft Minutes Excerpt for meeting of April 12, 2007 Page 9 of 10 Secretary Pollart said the next meeting is April 26. Commissioner Collier indicated that that is probably too short notice for any plan reVISIOns. Secretary PolIart thought the minor plan reVISIon might be accommodated by the architect. However, she said that early on, staff discussed parking spaces near the park, but the Engineering Department had some concerns. In addition, Planning felt that having parking on both sides of the entry to the play area might be problematic from a safety and aesthetic standpoint. Commissioner Collier said that she envisioned perhaps one place next to the fence, and the other next to the existing three places. Thus, the entry to the open space would not have cars on both sides. Secretary PolIart suggested the architect might be asked about the plan change. Acting Chair/Commissioner Dlugosh invited the applicant to address the issue. Mr. Ruffin said they had the same idea, which is why they tried to do the lot swap. Concerns about children's safety were expressed by both Engineering and Community Development. Some landscaping could be removed to accommodate one additional car, but it would be much harder to get the second space. Commissioner Collier indicated that two would come closer to preferences for a project of this magnitude. Mr. Ruffin said that is one of the reasons they worked with Traffic Engineering to get the 10 additional diagonal spaces on MacArthur Boulevard, which the City prefers because it helps slow down traffic. Commissioner Collier commented that the effect on slowing traffic is theoretical. Mr. Ruffin said that with enough cars in those spaces, traffic would slow. Commissioner Collier added that she dislikes diagonal parking, but that's another issue. She asked about possibly eliminating one of the smaller units. Mr. Settlemier said that is not financially feasible. Returning to the parking issue - on the one hand is parking, he said, and on the other is open space. A number of neighbors have indicated that they need to have some open space. From a health and safety standpoint, he said he did not think any more parking would work. From a pragmatic standpoint, if another parking place were added to the Alternative Site Plan, it would be near the entry to the open space, where there should be a tot lot, and children playing. He reiterated that the project is adding 10 parking spaces on MacArthur, right in front. He said that after 3 p.m., there are no cars on MacArthur. There just isn't a parking problem in this area, he asserted. There's going to be 16 parking places in front that the developer doesn't get credit for because they're on the street. That's three-fourths of a space per