Commission approves fleet-charging use at 855 Gary Street; condition on car-share parking removed

The Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use authorization on Feb. 2 to convert part of an existing parking garage at 855 Gary Street to a fleet-charging and non-retail automotive use.

Planning staff explained the application (Case 2022-005541 CUA) is a change of use limited to the second floor of a private parking garage and does not alter the number of parking spaces at the site. Staff determined the proposal qualified for a common-sense exemption because it does not affect parking counts or other thresholds and said the project furthers objectives in ongoing planning-code updates. "This application was submitted in June 2022 and it has been ready for the Planning Commission," staff said.

Applicant representatives from Rubin, Juniors & Rose (RJR) were present and available to answer questions but offered no additional public presentation after staff’s overview. Commissioners discussed an email received earlier that morning deleting a proposed condition related to car-share parking; staff clarified that car-share requirements are not applicable to EV fleet charging locations and recommended the condition be removed.

Commissioner Braun moved to approve the application with the amended conditions; the motion was seconded and passed 7-0.

The approval includes the department’s recommended conditions of approval as amended; the decision record will reflect the deleted car-share requirement and any final plan corrections requested by staff.