[RP TownTalk] M-UTC Report from Jun 7

[Alice Ewen Walker]

M-UTC Update from Last Night

Last night the Mixed Use Zoning Committee met to review changes to the
Patriot Group proposal for development at Riverdale Rd. / Queensbury Rd/ and
Lafayette.  Patriot Group presented their changes since the last meeting,
which were fairly minor but did help address comments from the committee
provided at the last meeting.

Changes:

- greater articulation of building facades to scan as multiple buildings.
variation of the roofline across the top so that the buildings scan
individually, rather than as one monolith
- greater detailing of the rear facade through variation in the color of
materials

As was noted earlier, the Patriot Group planned on last night's presentation
as its final design iteration before M-UTC. The applicant plans to pursue a
special exception process because the project varies from M-UTC mandatory
requirements in four ways. Those are: height, distance from the train track,
loading location for retail spaces, and elevation of the first story
residences.

The M-UTC heard public comments on the matter.  There were no new concerns
aired that have not already been noted on this list.

The M-UTC committe voted to approve the project with conditions -- those
conditions being that:
- the height be three stories
- the distance from the rail line be 100 feet
- the first floor units be elevated 3' from ground level
- the loading location be located in the rear

These are the four "mandatory" requirements of the zoning, so from the
committee's technical standpoint, this is the most positive endorsement of
the project that the committee could make.  Variance from these four
mandatory requirements will be a matter for the council to decide.

I want to thank the members of the zoning committee and the developers from
the Patriot Group for taking advantage of the M-UTC process, which affords a
good deal of collaboration.  I think the project that is coming before the
council for review in the coming months is several tiers better than the
proposal that we started with six months ago.  In that regard, I think the
M-UTC zoning is already proving itself to be a valuable tool.  The developer
upgraded the quality of materials used on the exterior of the building in
response to this dialogue and also improved the design. You can view the
drawings at town hall.

Now, it is up to the town council whether to approve the variance request
from these four standards.

Thanks,

Alice Ewen Walker
M-UTC Committee Chair
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