HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff ReportDESIGN REVIEW BOARD
NORTHGATE DISTRICT
STAFF REPORT
Project Manager: Lauren A. Hovde, Staff Planner Report Date: September 28, 2009
Email: Ihovde@cstx.gov Meeting Date: October 5, 2009
For
NORTHGATE PARKING LOT ON CHURCH STREET SIDEWALK WAIVER
(09-00500028)
Item: Presentation, possible action, and discussion on a waiver request to Section
5.6.B.8.b.2 of the Unified Development Ordinance relating to Northgate District
Sidewalk Standards for the Northgate Restrooms project, located at 300 Church Street
and generally located along Church Street to the north of the Northgate Promenade.
Zoning District: NG-1 Core Northgate
Location: 300 Church Street, located on the south side of Church Street to the north of
the Northgate Promenade
Applicant: Ed McDonald, P.E., City of College Station, Capital Projects Department
Item Summary: The applicant is requesting a waiver to the sidewalk width requirement
of the Northgate District. The Board is asked to consider relief from the sidewalk width
standard of 10' along Church Street to allow for the existing 5' sidewalk to remain with
the inclusion of a landscape strip abutting the motorcycle parking facilities facing Church
Street, in conjunction with the Northgate Restrooms project. Therefore, the waiver
request is for a relief of 5'.
Item Background: The Sidewalk Standards being discussed can be found in Section
5.6.B.8.b.2 of the Unified Development Ordinance, which requires a sidewalk existing
on a site prior to development or redevelopment to be upgraded to meet current
standards. Sidewalks are specified to be a minimum of 10' in width along Church
Street.
Most of this block has already undergone redevelopment without widening the existing
5' sidewalk to the required 10' along Church Street, and therefore the widening of this
approximately 55' section would be inconsistent with the remaining block totaling
approximately 600' in length.
A waiver to the sidewalk requirement was previously approved by the Design Review
Board (DRB) on March 13, 2009. The approval was conditioned upon pavers being
used in the motorcycle parking spaces rather than asphalt so as to allow a pedestrian
friendly transition between the sidewalk and the motorcycle parking. At that time, the
site plan showed that the motorcycle parking would directly abut the existing sidewalk.
However, upon construction it was discovered that there was approximately four extra
feet that had not been accounted for on the site plan. With this extra space, the
landscape area which had existed prior to construction was replaced. This will
potentially allow space for motorcycle parking to be screened from the right-of-way.
Since the landscape area now impedes pedestrian activity between the sidewalk and
motorcycle parking, Planning Staff has required that the item be reheard by the DRB.
Items for Review:
Sidewalk waiver. Section 5.6.B.14.o gives the DRB has the authority, according to the
Unified Development Ordinance, to approve such a waiver to the Sidewalk Standards
where existing physical conditions prohibit the strict application of the ordinances.
Recommendation: This is a City of College Station Capital Improvements Project;
therefore, Staff has not provided a recommendation.
Supporting Materials:
1. Application
2. Copy of Site Plan (in packet)
3. Photos (in packet)