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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-16 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 17, 2016 REGULAR MEETING Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. Present: Chairwoman Pelletier, Commissioners Glynn, Hopfe, Johnson, Lettner, Council Representative Junker Absent: Commissioner Anderson Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket, Police Chief Gannaway APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of October 20, 2016 meeting minutes The minutes were amended to add the names of commissioners as movers and seconders for action items. NEW BUSINESS Wolf Block Hotel - Construction Parking Community Development Director Turnblad stated that Amcon Construction is beginning work on the boutique hotel in the Joseph Wolf Block. In oder to establish a safe perimeter for the construction site, Amcon is requesting permission to block off the parking on the south side of Nelson Street adjacent to the building, and on the west side of Main Street. This includes three parking spaces on Main Street and five on Nelson Street. The construction period will last about 12 months and would begin in the next two weeks. In addition to blocking off the on-street parking spaces, there will be fencing to close the sidewalk on the south side of Nelson Street. The Main Street sidewalk would remain open to pedestrians. Staff recommends incorporating the five parking spaces on Nelson into the perimeter safety zone but leaving the three parking spaces on Main Street for public use. Dennis Cornelius, Amcon Construction, said the spaces are needed for logistics and moving equipment and materials into the building. If not blocked for the duration of the project, they would like to have those stalls blocked as needed. They are proposing jersey barriers along Main Street with a cyclone fence behind. They want to maintain pedestrian access along Main Street and to the stairs. They also hope to have a pair of gates where Main and Nelson intersect which would allow access beyond the jersey barrier. Downtown Parking Commission November 17, 2016 Page 2 of 3 Community Development Director Turnblad suggested blocking parking in the Main Street spaces as needed (with one day notice), to better accommodate parking demand on Main. Mr. Cornelius replied that due to the overhead power line across Nelson, they have to have access either in front of or behind the site. They can coordinate with the City as long as they know they can have the spaces blocked off for particular days with advance notice. Councilmember Junker said it would be best to keep the construction area as clear as possible from pedestrians. Chief Gannaway pointed out there will be a lot of foot traffic this year throughout the downtown, generated by the Ice Castles. Mr. Turnblad suggested placing a barricade at the top of the hill prohibiting pedestrians from using Nelson. There would still be driving traffic down Nelson. Motion by Commissioner Glynn, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to approve 1) blocking off the use of the five requested spaces on Nelson Street; 2) placement of a barricade on the sidewalk just to the east of the entrance to Teddy Bear Park which would direct pedestrians to use the sidewalk on the north side of Nelson; and 3) blocking off the three requested spaces on Main Street as needed. All in favor. There was subsequent discussion of parking for construction crews. Mr. Cornelius said there will not be enough parking on site for all their crews. There could be 25-100 crew members on any given day. They know they will have to deal with parking. Mr. Turnblad suggested getting permits for the crews or directing them to park in the Veterans Memorial lot at Pine and Third/Fourth Streets. Officer Pasket reminded them that on-street parking is limited to three hours and the workers will be subject to parking enforcement. Wanderer Distillery - Parking Mitigation Community Development Director Turnblad reported that the applicants propose to operate a craft distillery and tasting room known as Wanderer Distilling Company in the existing building at 124 Second Street South. The tasting room, with seasonal outdoor seating, will allow patrons to purchase and sample only products produced onsite. The tasting room will be open to the public Thursday through Saturday. Production will occur throughout the week. Approximately 2,300 square feet of the 7,500 square foot structure will be used for the tasting room. They plan to open a 8’ x 60’ patio sometime after the first year of operation. The remaining 5,200 square feet of building space will be used as office, storage, utility, restrooms, production and warehouse. Though the property has a parking lot, it does not have sufficient parking to meet minimum parking requirements once the seasonal patio is open. Therefore the applicants are requesting the Downtown Parking Commission approve the use of City parking facilities for the balance of the seasonal parking needs. The increased parking demand is calculated to be 16 spaces, 26 seasonally. The parking lot will accommodate 16 spaces, which covers the increased year-round demand. Staff recommends deferring a decision on the parking demand for the seasonal patio until the distillery is ready to open the patio area. The parking lot should still be required to be striped per the plan on file. Downtown Parking Commission November 17, 2016 Page 3 of 3 Councilmember Junker noted it is very hard to back out of parking spaces in the lot as it exists now. Mr. Turnblad said if they shift to a one way entrance and exit to the lot, parking spaces would be gained. Motion by Chairwoman Pelletier, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to approve the request through use of public parking for the required parking mitigation for the increased seasonal demand, with the conditions recommended by staff, and a recommendation that Domacin and Wanderer work together to create a more efficient and safe one-way circulation through both of their lots. All in favor. Parking Ramp There was general discussion of the need to curtail using the ramp for parking mitigation for new businesses and business expansions because it is filling up. A second parking ramp is needed. One possible location could be Lot 1. Commissioners agreed that a work session with the Council is needed, as part of the comprehensive planning process, to discuss the big issues related to parking such as: need for second parking ramp; solutions to the emergency exiting situation of the ramp; possible moratorium on approving the use of public parking for new and expanding businesses. The Commission discussed a variety of solutions to the problem with the emergency button on the ramp exit equipment. ADJOURNMENT Chairwoman Pelletier adjourned the meeting at 9:45 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary