Planning Commission approves expanded paid public parking lot on Bridge Street with landscaping and fencing conditions

The Planning Commission approved a proposal to expand and repave an existing accessory parking lot at 528 and 532 Bridge Street NW and convert excess stalls to 24‑hour paid public parking.

Applicants from Advantage Commercial described plans to repave deteriorated asphalt, add 18 parking spaces and pedestrian walkways, and monetize the lot outside office hours with a third‑party operator. Staff noted the lot will bring the property closer to conformance by adding trees but requested the commission consider increased landscape buffering along Seward and a fence along the east lot line adjacent to the railroad for pedestrian safety.

Commissioners expressed concerns about pedestrian circulation, the hatched unusable stalls, snow storage, and opportunities to add additional landscaping where hatched stalls currently appear; the applicant said reconstruction of the lot and operational controls will address many issues. The commission approved the project with conditions: combine the parcels, maintain a city parking facility business license, remove the east‑side Bridal Street sidewalk stub, install fencing along the east lot line to separate parking from the railroad, and increase the Seward landscape screening to 12 feet in the hatched area with additional plantings. The motion carried by voice vote.