Public Hearing. Mayor Duncan asked Vice Mayor Byington to introduce the public hearing for Application 21-1, which requests an amendment to the Sugar Camp/Pointe Oakwood Master Plan relating to building use.

A copy of the resolution, having been placed on the desks of each member of Council prior to introduction, was read by title.

Vice Mayor Byington explained that this resolution would amend the Sugar Camp/Pointe Oakwood Master Plan to change the approved use of the former NCR gatehouse building from “delicatessen” to “professional office/business.”

This development is in the Multi-Use Special Planning (MUSP) zoning district. This is a special zoning district that was created in the waning years of NCR’s ownership of the Sugar Camp property, written to maximize local control over the redevelopment of the site. Regulations for the district are sparse but strict, requiring almost all development to be done via public hearings and special use permit.

The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on this change of use on June 2, 2021. By a vote of 4-0, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of changing the use from “delicatessen” to “professional office/business.” The matter is now before Council on that recommendation, and City Council is now holding a public hearing on the application.

Vice Mayor Byington introduced this as a resolution to approve based on the recommendation of the Planning Commission. However, Council is required to hold a public hearing on this proposal and has not prejudged the matter. At the conclusion of the hearing, City Council may vote to approve the application in its entirety, approve it with conditions, or deny it altogether. If Council decides to approve, as recommended by the Planning Commission, City Council will adopt this resolution as-is. If City Council decides to adopt the recommendation with additional conditions imposed by Council, there is space provided on the document to write them in tonight. In the event that City Council denies the application altogether or otherwise departs from the Planning Commission’s recommendation, the resolution will be withdrawn as written and the Law Director will be asked to prepare legislation consistent with Council’s decision, to be adopted at the next regular meeting in August.

As a formality before opening the public hearing, it was moved by Vice Mayor Byington and seconded by Mr. Stephens that the resolution be presented in a public hearing and voted on after the information is presented and testimony is heard.

Vice Mayor Byington asked Code Enforcement Officer Ethan Kroger to present the staff report.

Mr. Kroger referenced a PowerPoint presentation and provided the following information.

Mr. Kroger reviewed the history of the Sugar Camp Master Plan. The original Sugar Camp Master Plan was approved on April 23, 2007. The Plan has been amended a number of times, sometimes to accommodate market demands and sometimes to shift the location of approved uses within the development. The Gatehouse building has been vacant since the original master plan approval, and no one has stepped forward with a plan to operate it as a deli, or any other type of food service establishment. Other ideas have been floated over the years, but to date, nothing concrete has been proposed and the master plan has never been amended with respect to the Gatehouse.

He then reviewed the current proposal to change the approved use from “delicatessen” to “professional office space/business.” While this represents a change in the approved use for this building, it is not a new use within the Sugar Camp development, much of which is already approved for professional office space. The applicant has invested significant time and funds in repairing and restoring the current building. The proposed landscaping will be compatible with the surrounding development and exterior finishes will be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. The applicant is proposing the addition of a 10.5 square foot wall sign that will be bronze in color to complement the current building colors.