Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 04/20/2015 - Joint with Planning Comm

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City Planner Anderson replied that it is not specifically required within the Design Framework but that it is reasonable to ask what the intentions are and the City will be reaching out to the applicant. Board Member Hiatt stated that the City should make sure the applicant is aware that we are expecting an internal landscaping plan from them and suggested addressing the landscaping along the back wall of the garage. Community Development Director Gladhill asked the Board if they wanted to continue the trend to prescribe the plantings in the boulevard area for a consistent look and the Board's desire with regard to reducing the parking lot size. Board Member Hiatt stated that the Board could not take the number of parking spaces below the code for minimum parking spaces. Board Member Lewis stated he was not proposing that the Board force the applicant down to the minimum number of parking spaces, but that it seemed to him that there was an inordinate amount of parking. He would like to know if the parking is appropriate for the size of the building and he would like to see more imaginative landscaping. City Council Liaison LeTourneau stated he would like to know about any economic reasons for having that much parking. City Planner Anderson confirmed the Board's general consensus to explore the question of parking and if there is an ability to shrink it and to offset it with landscaping. Board Member Valentine stated that it would be useful to look at landscaping to provide drainage and a way to handle storm water management. City Council Liaison LeTourneau stated his concern is any storm water that makes it back into the river and he would want to think about it before we asked them to re-engineer. Board Member Valentine stated he was not talking about major re -design of their storm water system but trying to create more pervious area. City Planner Anderson stated that the Staff Review Letter can be revised and general advisory comments added regarding the parking lot and the storm water plan and stating that the City feels this is an issue worth exploring. He stated that the Board is identifying a best management practice that could be implemented on this site. Community Development Director Gladhill will forward the Board's comments on the aesthetic components of development plans to the Planning Commission. City Council Liaison LeTourneau stated that the Board should be focused on the exterior development plan and that the garage issue does need to be addressed. Board Member Lewis felt that it was important to look at the overall development plan. Environmental Policy Board / March 30, 2015 Page 5 of 9