SITE PLAN REVIEW

CITY COMMISSION

NOVEMBER 11, 2014

 

A.           SUMMARY

 

SP-14-00365:  A site plan for sidewalk hospitality area for PepperJax Grill located at 919 Massachusetts Street. Submitted by Paul Werner Architects for G & P LC, the property owners of record.

 

B.        GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Current Zoning and Land Use:

CD (Downtown Commercial District); Eating & Drinking Establishment.

 

Surrounding Zoning and Land Use:

To the north, south, and east: CD (Downtown Commercial District); Eating and Drinking Establishments, Retail Sales, and Office.

 

To the west: CD (Downtown Commercial District); City Parking Lot.

 

Site Summary:

Building

2550 Sq. Ft.

Proposed Sidewalk Dining Area:

124.5 Sq. Ft.

Off-Street Parking Required:

Not required in Downtown Commercial District.

 

 

Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of SP-14-00365, a site plan for sidewalk hospitality area, subject to the following conditions:

 

1.      Execution of a sidewalk dining license from the City prior to occupying the public right-of-way per Chapter 6-1202 of the City Code.

2.      Execution of an agreement with the City of Lawrence for use of the right-of-way per Chapter 6-12 of the City Code.

 

 

 

C.        STAFF REVIEW

 

The applicant proposes to construct a 124.5 square-foot sidewalk area for dining service.  The sidewalk dining area will extend outward from the east face of the building 6’ and will be 19.67’ long from north to south.  The sidewalk dining area leaves an unobstructed clear space of 6’ of the Massachusetts Street sidewalk.  The proposed outdoor area will accommodate seating at tables with outdoor seating available for up to 12 people. The area will be separated from the pedestrian sidewalk with a railing 3’ high.

 

 

Historic Resources Commission (DR-14-00371)

The Historic Resources Commission reviewed the sidewalk dining application for 919 Massachusetts Street under the State Preservation Law, Certificate of Appropriateness Review and Downtown Design Guidelines Review.  The property is listed as a non-contributing structure to Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places and is located in the environs of the Hanna Building (933 Massachusetts) and Plymouth Congregational Church (925 Vermont), Lawrence Register of Historic Places. The property is also located in the Downtown Urban Conservation Overlay District.

 

In accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, Chapter 22 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, and the Downtown Design Guidelines, the standards of evaluation, the Historic Resources Administrator approved the proposed project and made the determination that the proposed project does not encroach upon, damage, or destroy listed historic properties or their environs.

 

The Historic Resources Commission confirmed the administrative approval of this project on September 18, 2014.

 

 

 

D.        Findings

 

Per Section 20-1305(j) staff shall first find that the following conditions have been met:

 

(1)      The site plan shall contain only platted land;

 

The site is platted as the South ˝ Lot 77, Massachusetts Street, Original Townsite, Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas.

 

 

(2)      The site plan shall comply with all standards of the City Code, this Development      Code and other adopted City policies and adopted neighborhood or area plans;

 

As conditioned, the site plan complies with all standards of the City Code and Development Code.

 

(3)      The proposed use shall be allowed in the district in which it is located or be an allowed nonconforming use;

 

The subject property is zoned CD (Downtown Commercial) District. Eating & Drinking Establishments are permitted in this District.

 

(4)      Vehicular ingress and egress to and from the site and circulation within the site shall provide for safe, efficient and convenient movement of traffic not only within the site but on adjacent roadways as well and shall also conform with adopted corridor or access management policies; and

 

No changes are proposed that would affect vehicular access to this property. No off-street parking is required or proposed with this project due to its location in the CD (Downtown Commercial) District.

 

(5)      The site plan shall provide for the safe movement of pedestrians on the subject site.

Six feet of unobstructed public sidewalk area is preserved along Massachusetts Street for safe pedestrian movement to and from the subject business.