TD Planning to hear appeal of 116-apartment building plan; Parking at issue
Renderings from Architect Chris Hodney show the Basalt Commons on the former Griffith Motors site looking east in downtown The Dalles. An appeal of the site plan and specifically parking will be heard tonight, Aug. 15.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles Planning Commission will hear an appeal of the site plan for a 116-unit apartment building with commercial space on the ground floor at their meeting set for Thursday, Aug. 15 at 5:30 p.m.
Basalt Commons is proposed for the former Griffth Motors, a half-acre lot at 523 E. Third Street.
Bob Wickwire, who owns Downey Furniture, is appealing Community Development Director Joshua Chandler’s decision to waive on-site parking as is allowed in the city ordinances.
“Parking issues are still unresolved,” he said in his appeal. “The parking study is not realistic. No one will park 3 blocks away to purchase or shop for furniture, especially the elderly who are a big part of our customer base. You have rules listed for parking and no way to enforce.”
Warren Sawyer, who owns the Sawyer’s Hardware building across the street sent a letter detailing his opposition to the site plan approval as well.
He states that the ordinance pertaining to parking “may be waived” for property located in the Central Business Commercial Zone 2 or CBC-2 zone.
“That means it's a decision based on information whether it is appropriate to waive the parking requirements or not,” he wrote.
“The Parking Waiver makes sense, and I believe was intended for small footprint businesses along second and third streets downtown within CBC-2 zone where a remodel or construction would cause a requirement to provide off-street parking in locations where on-street parking satisfies the needs of the business and customers,” he said. “The development of Basalt Commons is almost 100,000 square feet and does not reflect the intent of the municipal code to waive the parking requirements.”
Director Chandler saw it differently quoting the code:
“Minimum off-street parking spaces required by Article 7.060: Minimum and Maximum Off-Street Parking Requirements may be waived for the following:
2. The property is located within Sub-district CBC-2 in the Central Business Commercial district, as defined in Section 10.5.050.020: Sub-Districts.”
Basalt Commons has plans for 35 parking stalls located near the alley between Third and Second streets.
However, estimates from the traffic study commissioned by the developers show a need of between 145 and 199 during peak hours for residents and commercial uses - a restaurant and business offices in this scenario.
Developers are looking to public parking lots and on-street parking to fill the gap.
There is more than sufficient parking when looking at both parking lot and on-street parking uses, according to a study that was conducted at the request of the developers.
For example, the public parking lot at First and Federal Streets has over 100 parking spots and is a three-and-a-half minute walk to Basalt Commons over two blocks.
Mary and Michael Hanlon are the developers of Basalt Commons and have hired Architect Chris Hodney to work through approvals with the city.
Hodney has hired Attorney Christopher P. Koback to represent his firm and ultimately the Hanlon’s in the appeal.
“The appellant raised parking in his appeal three times,” wrote Koback in his rebuttal to the appeal. “First, he mentions it in his opening statement asserting that parking issues are still not resolved. Next, he asserts that having 35 offstreet parking spaces is not adequate. Lastly, in his conclusion, he asserts that a waiver for on-site parking should not be granted.”
“Each of the appellant’s assertions are resolved by answering one foundational question related to his third point: Did the Planning Director correctly allow the applicant to elect to waive the minimum on-site parking requirements? If the waiver was properly allowed, it necessarily means that the “parking issue” has been resolved and that the applicant is allowed under the code to have only 35 on-site parking spaces because, with a valid waiver, there is no minimum on-site parking requirement.”
The Central Business Center Zone 2 “provides applicants the right to elect to completely waive the minimum requirements,” Koback contended.
To read more about the development read CCCNews’ preceding stories:
Engineer appeals height permit for 116-apartment Basalt Commons to TD Council
TD Council affirms Basalt Commons decision for 60-foot height
Support Local News
Available to everyone. Funded by readers.
