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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-30 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES June 30, 2016 REGULAR MEETING Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:42 a.m. Present: Chairwoman Pelletier, Commissioners Anderson, Hopfe, Johnson, Council Representative Junker Absent: Commissioners Glynn and Lettner Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, Police Chief Gannaway, Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of April 21, 2016 meeting minutes There were no changes to the minutes of the April 21, 2016 meeting. NEW BUSINESS Joseph Wolf Block - Hotel parking mitigation Community Development Director Turnblad stated that Corey Burstad and his development team proposes to convert the Joseph Wolf Block at 402 South Main Street to a 40-room boutique hotel and restaurant. The project will be responsible for mitigating the increased parking demand generated by redevelopment of the site. The Parking Commission is being asked to approve 1) an 18-space parking credit for the proposed on-site valet lot; and 2) four valet parking spots, two on Main Street and two on Nelson Street. Mr. Turnblad reviewed the parking requirements. Staff recommends that the development be required to use the public parking system to mitigate the 15-space deficit and pay the standard monthly fee for those spaces; and approval of use of two parking spaces for valet service on Nelson Street at a charge to the developer of $4,026 during peak hotel demand times, with the fee being based on hours approved for use. Mr. Burstad explained the developers will have to excavate the entire top parking lot and redo it all the way to Nelson Street and correct the drainage. He explained that the hotel will be a four-star, five-diamond property run by Provenance Hotel Group with a target occupancy rate of 65%. Valet service is expected to be well utilized. They are concerned about offloading people on the steep slope of Nelson Street especially in winter. That is why they are requesting two valet spaces on Main Street also. The Nelson Street spaces will work well for the staff-only entrance on Nelson Street. The entire street corner will be redone. Downtown Parking Commission June 30, 2016 Page 2 of 5 Chairwoman Pelletier asked where guests would park. Mr. Burstad responded that valet parking will be used for some and the rest will park throughout the City. It will be the hotel’s responsibility to direct guests where to park. Ms. Pelletier commented that a larger conversation about downtown parking availability is needed, as it is becoming saturated. Mr. Turnblad noted that City lots on Pine and Third Streets are not full on weekends and could easily handle 30 cars. Perhaps mitigation should require overflow valet parking to be there if the ramp is full. Police Chief Gannaway commented he opposes having dedicated parking spots on Main Street, especially until it is known how the new bridge will impact traffic. Mr. Burstad said the project will be extremely difficult due to the deterioration of the buildings. The goal is to start the project in August and open by Memorial Day 2017. He pointed out that the demand for rooms is great. There will be a lot of crossover between hotel guests and event center customers. Mr. Junker said a boutique hotel will be good for downtown Stillwater but the area south of Chestnut Street will change dramatically and a lot more cars will be using Nelson Street after bridge construction. Mr. Burstad said they would be willing to come back and revisit the issue after the hotel opens in the summer months. They are eager to get started with the project. Commissioner Hopfe noted there are a lot of morning deliveries using Nelson Street. Mr. Burstad said they will use the Nelson Street door for deliveries but will also have delivery trucks pull up into the top lot. Chairman Pelletier said she is concerned about the availability of parking for the smaller businesses downtown. She opposes having reserved parking spaces on Main Street at least until the bridge is open. Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to approve the use of the two easternmost parking spaces on Nelson Street for valet parking (the annual cost at 2016 rates would be $4,026). All in favor, 4-0. Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to approve the use of the 18 on-site valet parking spaces as full mitigation for the 15 additional parking spaces required for the hotel project, with two conditions: 1) valet parking off-site should first be at the municipal parking ramp and if no space is available there, then valet parking should be in Lot #20; and 2) the mitigation plan must be reviewed after the first season of operation. No additional payment will be required for mitigation. All in favor, 4-0. Downtown Parking Commission June 30, 2016 Page 3 of 5 Nacho Mama’s expansion and parking mitigation Community Development Director Turnblad explained that Todd and Brenda Ryder are expanding Nacho Mama’s Restaurant by adding 696 square feet and a storefront on Main Street (312 South Main). The project will be responsible for mitigating the increased parking demand generated by the expansion. He reviewed parking requirements. Staff recommends the restaurant be required to use the public parking system to mitigate the two space deficit, and pay the standard monthly fee for those spaces. Motion by Chairman Pelletier, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to require Nacho Mama’s to mitigate two spaces for the addition to the business and pay the standard monthly parking fee. All in favor, 4-0. CURRENT BUSINESS Contract parking in ramp during events Mr. Turnblad reviewed the issue of residents who have purchased monthly parking permits being unable to find a parking space in the ramp during events. He stated that during Lumberjack Days and the Fourth of July, a sign is placed at the ramp for $10 parking which often fills the ramp. He further explained that the purchase of a monthly residential parking permit does not guarantee a space in the ramp; the only guaranteed spaces in the ramp are those that have a sign on them stating who they are reserved for. Everything else is first come first serve and residents would have to pay $10 to get in instead of using their permit. Mr. Turnblad asked the Commission if the City should allow those who have passes to get into the ramp without paying $10 during events. The consensus of the Commission was to let those residents who have parking permits into the ramp without charging them $10. Mr. Turnblad stated there is still the issue of residents who have monthly parking permits being unable to park during events because there are no spaces available. A gentleman from Rivertown Commons told the Commission that since they pay for 24/7 parking they should be guaranteed parking in the ramp every day of the year. Councilmember Junker suggested either going away all day or leaving their car there and not leaving so they keep their parking space. Ms. Louise Hanson, resident of Rivertown Commons, complained that, for example, on the fourth of July if she leaves home and comes back later in the day, she has no parking space. Community Development Director Turnblad stated that the City is allowed to have 25 spaces for residential parking in the ramp. Eight of them are for Rivertown. The other 17 could all be converted to reserved spaces, but the monthly cost would have to go from $35 to around $50 a month to guarantee a space with a sign in front of it. The gentleman from Rivertown Commons said he doesn’t care where he parks in that ramp as long as he has a space. He suggested having a counter on the ramp arm - when there are X Downtown Parking Commission June 30, 2016 Page 4 of 5 number of people in the ramp, no more would be let in, leaving enough spaces open for those residents who have monthly permits. He has physical problems that make it difficult for him to walk up and down the hill if he has to park elsewhere. Ms. Hanson stated the majority of the residents using the ramp have physical disabilities that make it difficult to park elsewhere. She doesn’t care where she parks in the ramp, but just feels she should have a place to park when she comes home even on event days. Councilmember Junker said the monthly parking permits should include a notice that this type of space is not a guarantee, for instance in the few event days of the year there might not be availability. Mr. Turnblad explained that the contract that residents enter with the City is not a written document but is an implied contract entered at the time the resident exercised the option to purchase their parking permit. He added that the ramp was not originally intended to provide residential parking. To have a guaranteed spot, they would need to pay more. The gentleman from Rivertown Commons countered that he is paying quarterly, providing guaranteed income to the City and should have a guaranteed space wherever it might be in the ramp. The gentleman from Rivertown Commons also voiced a concern about drivers parking in the ramp taking two spaces. Mr. Turnblad said he would find out what the additional cost would be for a guaranteed reserved, signed parking space. Parking ramp event rates Mr. Turnblad explained that the only time the parking ramp is premium space is the Fourth of July. Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to change the $10 event fee for parking in the ramp to include only the Fourth of July. All in favor, 4-0. Short term parking on Water Street and at the Feed Store Chairman Pelletier explained the differing desires of the retailers regarding short term parking and loading signs. She feels the two spaces on Water Street closest to Nelson should be loading zone Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. only. Near the Farm Store, there are five loading zone spaces which are never all full. Commissioner Hopfe said she feels the issue should be revisited with the Farm Store. Motion by Chairwoman Pelletier, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to designate the loading zone signs on Nelson and Water Street as follows: The Water Street sign behind Alfresco, Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; The Farm Store, a) the most easterly space sign as 3 hour and the remaining four loading zone signs as Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. All in favor, 4-0. Downtown Parking Commission June 30, 2016 Page 5 of 5 SPECIAL EVENTS Fall Color Fine Art & Music Festival Community Development Director Turnblad informed the Commission that the Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce, has applied for a special event permit for its annual Fall Colors Fine Art & Music Festival. The proposed venue includes City Lots 5, 9 and 11 and North Lowell Park (north of the gazebo). The event is planned to be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 1- 2, with setup occurring all day on Friday, September 30. Clean up will occur Sunday evening. The request of the Parking Commission is to approve the reservation of Lots 5, 9 and 11 for three days. The City' s event parking policy encourages the use of Lowell Park but allows the reservation of Lots 5, 9 and the lots north of Mulberry. For the three days needed for the event, the fee will be $492. Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Chairwoman Pelletier, to approve the staff recommendation to allow the use of Lots 5, 9 and 11, with a fee of $492. All in favor, 4-0. COUNCIL UPDATES RampAds proposal Community Development Director Turnblad stated that the proposal was denied by the Council. Jim Cashman’s Tuk-Tuk parking request Community Development Director Turnblad informed the Commission that Jim and Marilyn Cashman have started operating the Tuk-Tuk. The Council approved the Parking Commission’s recommendation to deny reserved parking spaces. COMMISSION REQUEST ITEMS Nelson Street Commissioner Hopfe said people are getting tickets for parking on Nelson Street near the water and it is not signed. Staff was directed to erect 3-hour parking signs at the end of Nelson at Sam Bloomer Way. ADJOURNMENT Chairwoman Pelletier adjourned the meeting at 10:24 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary