On Tuesday the 7th the Planning Commission will consider the latest site plan review for 246 apartments at the North Campus of the State Hospital.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRr3NlSU-HsyhbRly8_FAouBDjIg4ysBtWmXZRQx8yRbbt-ZQ82V0kaDT_MDnIUYVDKuIUlTtE26HCRE8ZPtqiC7-Y5lw52aFBU_GpPlPC-4nI36_uH5aFg7ohNUCiVUZOiM6Cq-h7tY/s400/Staff+Report+January+7+2020+site+plan+in+color.JPG) |
Apartment blocks in blue; private drive and parking lots
off cul-de-sacs; single detached homes line D and Park |
I'm having a hard time thinking about it, though. This will just be a shallow overview, therefore.
The Staff Report is also a little confusing.
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Staff Recommendation is not strong and gives two choices |
Initially it recommends denial, but then says, but if you don't want to, that's ok, and here's an alternative.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRALF7ASwlyeagWiLVf3MAxbQf0BUW6uMeqTOxq4nMoZmj6xf7a6R3pT3NJTmQTBX2fAI_q_IcsYzCm8DC4cKMxfkN0-9zP3aSis0j7l1eg3wG0rso4EYzEQM4fY6Pi8I5MFi5IUZhnY/s400/Staff+Report+January+7+2020+conditions+1.JPG) |
Proposed conditions, pt 1 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV7ZzVD9qC3WAq3NBEQFf0d02au6n-d_fmFp9MiuZ2H5_uY_gkluv3um1IOpPpl_JdtkZJq5qVyz_33yMKSbFe9FgBV2Ysru1YaVE6RM1U-k1JpHocvYAnjo2WJvw-efuRufiNc38aTo/s320/Staff+Report+January+7+2020+conditions+2.JPG) |
Proposed conditions, pt. 2 |
Of interest in the proposed conditions are ones for trees, sidewalks, and a couple of intersections.
It was great to see Cherriots call for sidewalks. Maybe they have done this before, but I don't remember seeing them call out something like this so specifically.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwlpa2XXU9fi7xCmRMwP5ksVekoyhZwT0RMlE7EAUJTeEsMiYIZhjGrQL-_RNirsl1zE_NYp4dgLFh4Ljo1J1nKgRR1Dy2n4oA1EbWWXw-i4f4rtclKUk7dsUgtwmjgABSEPgF-3dAHo/s400/Staff+Report+January+7+2020+Cherriots+and+sidewalks+on+25th.JPG) |
Cherriots weighed in |
Because the project has private streets, parking lots and driveways, and is conceived as a kind of enclave on a superblock, sidewalks provide important connectivity for non-auto travel including people biking.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxw4Cuwbg6oTFu24ua10KPTEihEy3e6R57TX34s2fpvoJXGdZDRn0r5MxlWcw5NYEZhlOl7wF48m6WcI177naAp5_isCzP91oh2yZTSqxlkzZojcO3lsVn8JnRAX_GFuDozKk1YbPOBy0/s400/Staff+Report+January+7+2020+primary+sidewalk+connections.JPG) |
Two main sidewalks instead of internal streets |
The main reason for denial is the request for an adjustment reducing a required 10-foot setback, but I can't find anywhere on the site plan with less than a 10-foot setback. This corner shows 10.5 and 12.5 foot setbacks, and I don't understand the problem. (If and when I do, I will edit and update here as necessary.)
Overall it's not a very high quality project, but it's now almost certainly too late in the process to improve it very much. It's a cookie-cutter set of three story walk-ups set on a parking lot and superblock, and we missed an opportunity for something more urban in form.
Maybe there will be more to say later.
1 comment:
NESCA posted a note to FB that they were endorsing and supporting the project.
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