When the Planning Commission met July 9, commissioners quickly approved an eight-unit townhouse project at 2 Judah St. At that meeting, they allowed a reduced setback at the rear of the property.
Last week, owner Terry McGuire came before the Historic District Commission, seeking design approval. In his review of the project, the city’s Director of Planning and Community Development, Kyle Palmer said the project would meet city guidelines for height and materials but questioned the orientation of the two four-unit buildings.
Palmer suggested that new construction should face the street. McGuire noted that the property is zoned C-2, and townhouses are considered commercial in most places. He explained that the layout was designed to accommodate parking requirements. He also contrasted this location with a typical residential area, where orientation issues might play a larger role.
McGuire described nearby buildings as “a hodgepodge,” with some facing the street. He noted the presence of a nearby cell tower and storage units, and objected to situating the new buildings to give residents a view of the storage units across the street.
Palmer read one letter which offered no objection to the project provided it complied with parking requirements. Neighbor Janet Seefeldt objected to placing the buildings perpendicular to the street and said she would prefer having the front elevation face Judah, with parking in the rear or on the south side of the buildings.
Another neighbor, Jim Cook, expressed “some concerns” with multi-family housing in his backyard. He also questioned whether the location next to a bar would provide a positive family setting.
Commissioner Debbie Davis admired the design, but returned to the possibility of having the buildings face the street. McGuire noted that he could have developed that property with a three-story apartment building, but the eight-unit project will sell at a higher price, while still providing entry-level housing.
As the discussion on changing the orientation of the buildings proceeded, Palmer said that modifying the plan would not require a return trip to the Planning Commission. Davis entered a motion to ask McGuire to redraw the plan to have a four-unit building face Judah, with the other building behind.
The commissioners postponed a decision, to allow for a site visit. They had initially hoped to convene Monday afternoon for a site visit and a special meeting, but scheduling difficulties moved the site visit later in the week.
In other business:
- The commission still has a vacancy, and only a bare quorum attended this meeting.
- Chair Dee Bright recapped a national preservation forum in Florida. “We had a great time and learned a lot,” she said. The schedule included four training sessions per day, with evening classes, too.
- A statewide preservation session is scheduled for Oct. 3-4 in Hot Springs. Davis suggested holding a workshop after that camp, to compare notes on that session and the national forum in Florida.
- Palmer said the city has not had a survey of historic properties since 2008. He said grant funds should be available, and the time for a new assessment “is definitely getting close.”
- The HDC will next meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21. Level III applications were due Aug. 8, and Level II applications are due Aug. 15.