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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-15 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES December 15, 2016 REGULAR MEETING Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:37 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 November 17, 2016 meeting minutes The minutes were accepted as presented. NEW BUSINESS North Main Hotel Parking Mitigation Community Development Director Turnblad reported that Midnight Real Estate LLC is proposing a hotel project at 232 North Main Street. The development would include 64 rooms, a coffee shop, a full service restaurant, business center rooms, an attached three-level, 120-space parking structure, and a three-story office building to be constructed in 2017. The project would involve redevelopment of Municipal Parking Lots 13 and 14. Four on-street parking spaces would be lost. Mr. Turnblad explained the configuration of the three parking levels. The project requires 150 parking spaces. 120 spaces will be provided, leaving a summer season deficit of 30 spaces, eight of which would be for patio uses. Therefore, the off-season deficit would be 22 spaces. The only parking space requirement that cannot be met on-site is that of the office building. The developer is requesting that the office building’s 34 space shortage be mitigated by using the Municipal Parking Ramp. Council Representative Junker asked if any residents of Rivertown Commons pay to park in the surface lots (Lots 13 and 14). Mr. Turnblad replied no. Mr. Junker pointed out that the gravel lot is currently a 24-hour lot, so as a condition of approval, the proposed ramp should be available to the public 24 hours. He also noted that each level of the proposed ramp is its own entity with no access to the other levels, which allows more spaces to be constructed. Downtown Parking Commission December 15, 2016 Page 2 of 5 Chairwoman Pelletier asked if the public would be able to park in the hotel ramp and would they have have to pay to park there. Mr. Turnblad responded yes, the fee would be whatever the hotel owner charges. Mike Hoefler, HAF Architects, and Matt Coopet, architect, addressed the Commission to answer questions. Mr. Hoefler remarked that there were concerns from residents of Mills on Main about lights shining in their windows from vehicles exiting the ramp. To address this, the first level of the proposed ramp would be restricted to hotel guests, who likely would not move their cars at night. Council Representative Junker asked if there should be no parking in the seven spaces on the south side of Mulberry from Main to Second, noting that at the Planning Commission meeting there was discussion of difficult sight lines. Mr. Turnblad said it may not be necessary to eliminate all the parking spaces, perhaps only the four spaces west of the ramp access. Mr. Hoefler reminded the Commission that when the lift bridge is closed, there will be a reduction of roughly 30% of the traffic that is there today. Council Representative Junker pointed out that the City’s traffic safety committee plans to monitor the intersection of Second and Mulberry. Also, some residents of Mills said that traffic studies should not have been done in November during the off-season. Mr. Hoefler responded that the study was done in November but the data was not solely from November. Currently the intersection of Mulberry and Second is a 59. In the future, with the hotel and new bridge, it is expected to drop to 39, referring to the delay in traffic that causes accidents. Chairwoman Pelletier said she loves the idea of a hotel like this downtown but is very concerned about the parking spaces that need to be mitigated. It helps that the new office building and the existing UBS building are both daytime uses. However, at some point the City’s parking will be at capacity. Council Representative Junker agreed that the City is fast approaching the maximum number of parking spaces that can be mitigated in the municipal ramp. Also to be considered is the entryway out of the lower level of the proposed parking ramp that is now green space. Initially, the first level was planned to go through to Commercial Street but now it will not. He likes the fact that it comes back out to Mulberry rather than adding another access into the Commercial Alley. Community Development Director Turnblad explained the parking mitigation process. Mr. Hoefler replied if it is possible to mitigate the parking deficit of the proposed office building via the municipal ramp, that makes the office building highly leasable. Commissioner Hopfe noted that parking on Second Street is difficult for residents of Rivertown Commons and their guests. The surface lots that are proposed to be removed have Downtown Parking Commission December 15, 2016 Page 3 of 5 served that purpose. Mr. Turnblad confirmed that the parking would no longer be free to the public. It would be available in the proposed ramp on a first-come, first-serve basis for a fee set by the property owner. Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket noted there is ample 24-hour parking downtown. Drivers just need to move their car once every 24 hours approximately. He suggested requiring that the hotel not give the office users vouchers for the hotel lot. Mr. Hoefler said the developers will want to comply with that because those 30 stalls in the proposed ramp represent about a $1 million investment, so they are going to want to charge parking fees to cover debt service. Mr. Coopet stated that construction is scheduled to be completed in a 10-12 month period including parking. Mr. Hoefler explained that if the hotel can fill 30 rooms out of the 64, that would be good. They are hoping to be 60% filled. Commissioner Hopfe reiterated that the City is going to need another parking ramp downtown soon. Commissioner Glynn asked if a deal could be struck this summer to use the parking spaces at the former Zephyr Depot while the theatre is under construction. The City will need to find more parking due to the loss of parking associated with the construction projects. Commissioner Hopfe added that there will have to be parking somewhere for all the workers who are working on the hotels. She also anticipates a huge backlash from Rivertown Commons about the loss of the surface lots. Though it is not the City’s obligation to provide them parking, they are almost trapped in that location. This project may force them to address the issue of parking for their residents. Mr. Turnblad acknowledged that Dominion (owner of the Rivertown Commons building) can lease spaces if they wish. Currently, Dominion does not provide the permits for residents, though some of the residents purchase permits themselves. Council Representative Junker said he would be happy to talk to Mr. Paradeau about the use of the Depot lot for construction workers. Chairwoman Pelletier said it should be required for the construction workers to park there, not just suggested. She would like the City Council to be aware of the Commission’s concerns about downtown parking this summer, with both hotels under construction and the loss of parking spaces in Lots 13 and 14, coupled with the loss of the spaces due to the construction of the hotel on North Main Street. If employees could park off-site or have a shuttle service or something, that may help. Commissioner Hopfe agreed that employee parking is a critical issue. Downtown Parking Commission December 15, 2016 Page 4 of 5 Mr. Turnblad agreed to place an item on the next agenda to discuss construction worker parking and the loss of public parking anticipated during summer 2017. Chairwoman Pelletier noted the Commission recognizes the pressure that is put on the City parking system while both projects are under construction. Another City parking ramp is needed. Commissioner Johnson said that because the developers are purchasing the lot and will control it, it feels like the City is losing parking even though the numbers say there will not be a parking loss. Commissioner Hopfe pointed out that when Gammy and Gumpy’s came in, the Commission directed them to use Lots 13 and 14 because they weren’t very busy. She does not mean to imply the City does not want the hotel project, but the City has been shuffling people around everywhere and so essentially there will be a parking issue for the businesses downtown. Mr. Hoefler commented that the hotel will generate business for other businesses downtown. Police Chief Gannaway remarked that Lots 13 and 14 are very low maintenance compared to the other lots, so losing them frees up staff to pay more attention to the other lots. Chairwoman Pelletier stated she would like it included in the motion that the City needs to be serious about finding additional parking. Mr. Turnblad suggested that it may be a comment to the Council. Council Representative Junker agreed that the Council needs to know about this concern. Motion by Commissioner Glynn, seconded by Commissioner Lettner, to approve the developer’s request to use the municipal parking ramp to mitigate the deficit (34 space summer season, 26 space off season) for the office building, with the following conditions: 1) At least 34 parking spaces must be made available to the general public in the third level of the ramp (accessible from North Second Street). Clearly visible signs must be installed at the entrance to this level identifying the availability of the public parking. 2) The office building owner must submit proof from the hotel owner that two warm-season parking spaces will be provided by the hotel in one of the levels of the ramp accessed off of Mulberry Street. This keeps all 40 spaces on the upper ramp level available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. If the hotel owner does not consent to this, then 36 office spaces must be mitigated. 3) The office building owner must submit proof from the hotel owner that eight off-season parking spaces will be provided by the hotel in one of the levels of the ramp accessed off of Mulberry Street. This keeps all 40 spaces on the upper level available to the public on a first- come, first-served basis. If the hotel owner does not consent to this, then 36 office spaces must be mitigated during the off-season. 4) The parking mitigation will occur in the municipal ramp. The fee for the municipal ramp (currently $12 per space for bulk rate business hours pass) will be invoiced to the office building owner quarterly by the City. 5) The fee is to be paid upon receipt of City invoice. Failure to pay within 30 days of invoice will be certified for collection with real estate taxes. The applicant waives any and all procedural and substantive objections to the parking mitigation fee in lieu of on-site parking requirements, Downtown Parking Commission December 15, 2016 Page 5 of 5 including but not limited to a claim that the City lacks authority to impose and collect fees. The applicant agrees to reimburse the City for all costs incurred by the City in defense of enforcement of this provision. 6) All construction workers for the hotel and office construction projects must park either on-site or in the parking lot immediately north of the former Zephyr Depot. All in favor. Theodore McDonough request for handicapped parking space Community Development Director Turnblad stated that Theodore McDonough has requested a handicap parking spot on Third Street South across from the Armory. He noted that the AA building next door requested the same thing and was denied because they have spaces behind their building. There are no handicapped spots within several blocks of this location. Police Chief Gannaway recommended tabling the request. The intersection of Chestnut and Third has safety issues that may change when the lift bridge is closed. The Commission agreed to table the request in order for the applicant to appear before the Commission to discuss it. (No vote was taken) Kelly Kongsgaard request for parking ramp permit fee waiver Community Development Director Turnblad informed the Commission that Kelly Kongsgaard has requested a waiver of the fee for parking in the ramp because she cannot afford the $15 monthly fee on her salary for her job as a personal care assistant for a Rivertown Commons resident. Chairwoman Pelletier noted there are probably lots of PCAs who service Rivertown Commons. She feels the request should be denied. Police Chief Gannaway expressed concern about setting a precedent. Motion by Commissioner Glynn, seconded by Commissioner Lettner, to deny the request. All in favor. ADJOURNMENT Chairwoman Pelletier adjourned the meeting at 10:15 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary