The Mount Vernon Municipal Planning Commission has unanimously recommended the approval of a request to amend the zoning of property along South Main Street, between Parrott and Adamson Streets, from R-1A to R-3. This change would allow for the development of multi-unit apartments. The commission's decision was made on March 13.
According to the Municipal Planning Commission's draft minutes packet, property owner Joe Updike explained that the approximately three-quarters of an acre property would serve as a buffer between R-1 zoning on the east and south and commercial zoning to the west and north. A rough draft layout indicates that a maximum of eight units could fit on the property with the required space. Concerns about a potential 45-foot-tall building were dismissed by Updike, who said that parking requirements make such height impractical.
City Engineer Brian Ball noted that during a recent intersection project, an alley apron for an undeveloped alley along half of the property's east side was concreted. Updike mentioned that this alley is currently used as a driveway for a house at 5 Adamson St., and he does not wish to interfere with its use. He suggested that he could construct a driveway on his own property, with an entrance from Adamson Street being preferable.
Planning Commissioner Austin Swallow expressed his preference for a building design option featuring a garage among four ideas presented by Updike. The decision between constructing three-unit versus four-unit buildings would depend on return on investment considerations. Swallow indicated that less density might be more suitable for the neighborhood, a sentiment echoed by Planning Commissioner Anne Ellsworth.
Mayor Matt Starr inquired whether a zoning amendment is permanent or conditional. Development Services Manager Lacie Blankenhorn clarified that it is permanent unless amended through the same procedure again. Law Director Rob Broeren added that zoning remains with the property if sold.
Updike mentioned that rental rates would not be high-end but rather basic rentals with mid-grade finishings. He used market rate rental figures of $1,000 to $1,200 per month for his calculations, as discussed by Starr. If units include garages, rents could be higher. The planned units are two-bedroom configurations.
