2002-11 GRANTING SPECIAL PERMIT HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD USE - 447 WEST MAIN STREET

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City Council Memo - 447 West Main Street February 13, 2002 Page Two The proposed office use meets the applicable criteria for a historic neighborhood use. (The structure at 447 West Main Street is within the boundaries of the local historic district which requires plan review and an approved certificate before changes are made to the structure.) The office use will not be intrusive to the residential character of the neighborhood. It appears that the change in use to office at this location will meet the building and accessibility codes. In reviewing the parking requirements for office in the Zoning Ordinance, eleven parking spaces are required for 4000 square feet of office use. For this proposed use, eleven parking spaces seem somewhat excessive and out of character for the residential area. The Off-Street Parking Requirements of the American Planning Association Planning Advisory Service suggest one parking space for each 200 square feet of net leasable area on the gound floor and one space per 300 square feet of net leasable area on all other floors. The APA application would require 4.5 parking spaces. The plan shows four parking spaces on site. The Glidewell's have received a letter from First Baptist Church that would allow additional parking across the street in the church parking lot located within 300 feet; however, the church wants to review this agreement every six months. Special Use Permits allow the variation of otherwise applicable regulations for such uses provided that the essential character of the surrounding neighborhood is not disturbed. Staff is of the opinion that the four on-site parking spaces are adequate. It is not unusual for the parking requirements to be relaxed with a historic neighborhood use because the use is specific (unlike a rezoning) and to preserve the residential character of the neighborhood. POTENTIAL OBJECTIONS: There were no objectors to the petition at the Plan Commission meeting nor at the Historical and Architectural Sites Commission meeting. INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: The proposed use was reviewed by the Historical and Architectural Sites Commission on January 16, 2002 with a recommendation of approval. The installation of a lift in the rear of the building and a small hanging sign at the front porch were also approved pending the approval of the special use pertnit. STAFF REFERENCES: If Council members have questions they may contact Kathy Miller at 424-2786 or at kjmiller@decaturnet.org. BUDGET/TIME IMPLICATIONS: The renovation of the property was completed with private funds. No federal, state or city grants or low interest loans were used to finance this project.