Live blogging DDRB Review of Parador Garage

[thelakelander]

Doesn't Roland work for Haskell?  He has a conflict of interest.  I thought he was staying out of it.

[fieldafm]

before the vote... Flagg 'we have a suburban mentality in this city and well continue to exasberate that problem if we keep doing this'  ' we have to maintain the integrity of downtown'  'does this garage match the proximity of this site?  should we settle?  our responsibility is to maintain the integrity of our urban landscape'

Thank God for Chris Flagg

[fieldafm]

flagg 'we continue to accept mediocricity'

[thelakelander]

Thank God but he's outnumbered.  However, he is exactly right.

[thelakelander]

It's a problem when someone can present a sketch like this and really believe people would want to spend time next to a blank wall:



If anything, this "courtyard/alley" looks like another poor lighted place with limited visibility for someone to get mugged.

[John P]

Forgive my ignorance. How do these individuals find themselves on the DDRB committee? By appointment? If so by who?

[Bridges]

It's a problem when someone can present a sketch like this and really believe people would want to spend time next to a blank wall:

If you draw them, they will come.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

It's a problem when someone can present a sketch like this and really believe people would want to spend time next to a blank wall:



If anything, this "courtyard/alley" looks like another poor lighting place with limited visibility for someone to get mugged.

or is it worse that the people looking at that rendering and automatically think Art Market or Sculpter Garden?

I can look at a retention pond all day and think Lake Tahoe - it's still a retention pond in the middle of a suburb.

[dougskiles]

I am at a point where I would rather see a well-landscaped surface parking lot that provides Parador with enough spaces to get to 65% occupancy.  And then build a structure that is worthy of being at that site.

[fieldafm]

retail deviation vote with three conditions (future retail on Hogan with 65%, alleyway deviation, and proper DRI and TCEA has to be submitted prior to issuing building permit). thankfully, a concerned citizen brought the DRI/TCEA issue up this moring


board wants the design for the alleyway, heights on periphat, and how they are dealng with facade on Hogans  (DRI/TCEA is staff review)... to come back to the board instead of being reviewed by staff prior to permit.. this motion is seconded and passed

first deviation (65% occupancy to provide retail)... two against(Rink and Flagg) one abstains (roland)
second deviation (transparent design deviation)... same as first vote
final approval (with board imposing the conditions in my second paragraph)... two against (Bailey and Flagg) one abstains (Rink actually voted yes on this vote)

developer is shovel ready once all conditions are met

[thelakelander]

While we're questioning market realities, why would a vendor want to set up a kiosk at this location?



A vendor needs something in place to create foot traffic to support them being there.  Retail would do that but why would someone believe a parking garage wall would?

[thelakelander]

I am at a point where I would rather see a well-landscaped surface parking lot that provides Parador with enough spaces to get to 65% occupancy.  And then build a structure that is worthy of being at that site.

This actually would not be a bad idea and it would be cheaper for all parties involved.  I wonder how many spaces could fit on that lot if it were simply improved?

[Noone]

This parking garage sounds like if it does get voted in now it will have to be grandfathered in before the new JTA guy would have said "What are we Doin?"

The new JTA guy has nothing to do with this project.

Just thinking of the pedestrian experience. How close to a bike rack. Transit. Don't pretend to be an expert but if we have a new JTA guy what is an example from where he is coming from?

[thelakelander]

This parking garage sounds like if it does get voted in now it will have to be grandfathered in before the new JTA guy would have said "What are we Doin?"

The new JTA guy has nothing to do with this project.

Just thinking of the pedestrian experience. How close to a bike rack. Transit. Don't pretend to be an expert but if we have a new JTA guy what is an example from where he is coming from?

I'm confused to what the new JTA guy would bring to the table on this issue that hasn't already been presented.

[dougskiles]

Transportation Concurrency Exception Area: Downtown was designated as a Transportation Concurrency Exception Area (TCEA) to promote mixed-use development tied into mass transit options to mitigate the impacts of development on the downtown and surrounding roadway system.

The Office of Economic Development is the master developer of the Consolidated Downtown Development of Regional Impact Development Order (DRI DO), approved March 12, 1993, and the Transportation Concurrency Exception Area (TCEA), approved December 13, 2005. The Downtown Zoning Overlay requires a developer obtain DRI development rights prior to receiving final DDRB approval.

DRI development rights are obtained only after receiving conceptual approval by the DDRB. All new and rehabilitation projects require DRI development rights, which are made available through the Consolidated Downtown DRI DO. A developer of a proposed project must obtain DRI development rights prior to receiving final DDRB approval. DRI development rights are allocated to a developer through a Redevelopment Agreement, negotiated by the Office of Economic Development and approved by City Council. Developers are required to mitigate the impacts of their proposed development by adhering to the Consolidated Downtown DRI DO conditions and agreeing to applicable TCEA Mobility Performance Standards.

The downtown area is designated a TCEA and requires developers to agree to implement applicable mobility improvements that promote mixed-use development, increased efficiency of existing roadways, enhanced streetscapes, mass transit ridership, transit oriented design, etc., in lieu of traditional road widening improvements.