Commission approves small Midtown apartment with reduced on‑site parking; one commissioner objects

The Planning Commission approved a major deviation on May 8 allowing a reduction in required parking for a proposed seven‑unit apartment building at 327 East Taylor Street in Midtown/Wells Avenue. By code the Wells Avenue overlay requires higher parking per unit (1.25 spaces for 2‑bedroom units), but the applicant sought to rely on a city density bonus and to permit a 1:1 parking ratio (seven spaces total), with two on‑street spaces credited toward the total.

Staff analyst Carter Williams said the site sits in a mixed‑residential corridor with nearby bus service and bike improvements planned by RTC; staff found the project aligns with master‑plan policies prioritizing infill and multimodal travel and recommended approval of the deviation. The applicant’s presentation emphasized context: the property is a mid‑block vacant lot, the building faces Taylor Street, and the site will include bicycle parking.

Public comment from a nearby homeowner opposed the reduction, saying street parking is already tight along the block and warning that new apartments would displace on‑street availability for single‑family residents and guests.

Commission debate centered on balancing the city’s goals for infill housing and multimodal travel against existing neighborhood parking pressure. Several commissioners said the Wells Avenue overlay is intended to support dense, pedestrian‑oriented living adjacent to transit and that the city’s density‑bonus policy aims to create housing where households can rely less on cars. Commissioner Romyrer described the broader goal: “The best urban places are the ones designed without parking.”

One commissioner dissented in the final vote, saying the immediate neighborhood already has several apartment complexes and is frequently congested; that commissioner said approval would intensify parking pressure. The motion to approve the major deviation carried with a majority; staff conditions require bicycle parking and integration with RTC neighborhood improvements and recommended trip‑reduction measures from the transit agency.

The deviation allows the applicant to build at the desired site plan while relying on shared on‑street parking to reach the code requirement equivalency; the decision includes standard conditions and a notice of the City Council appeal period.