Board debates whether 'professional services' classification drives 27-space requirement

Board members pressed staff and the applicant about how the use was determined because the parking ratio hinges on that classification. One board member asked: who determines the use? Staff responded that "staff does" after discussions with the applicant’s engineer and counsel, and that the applicant applied for professional services; staff warned the use determination could be revisited if the applicant sought a different category.

The discussion highlighted that the proposed internal split of space (applicant estimated one-third office and two-thirds warehouse) might affect the required parking if the non-office portion were classified differently. The board and counsel agreed the variance hearing should focus on the five criteria in section 175-152 but noted a different use classification could materially change the parking calculation and the evidence needed to justify variance relief.