HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP-23-001 - Supplemental - 1660 Williston Road (10)
Champlain Housing Trust
Ho Hum Motel Conversion
ZONING NARRATIVE Date: 05/06/22
(a) PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project site is located on Williston Road, at the intersection with Airport Road. It is in the Commercial
C1-R12 zoning district, abutting the residential R4 zoning district to the north.
There are three structures on the site. Two principal structures, and an accessory structure. The existing
west building is a single-story structure with 16 guest rooms, an office space, and building support spaces
(mechanical, laundry & storage). The existing east building is a two-story structure with 18 guest rooms, a small
office, and building support spaces (mechanical, laundry & storage). There is a single curb cut off Williston Road,
with an asphalt parking lot in front of each building. There is a fence surrounding the entire property (except
along the entrance to Williston Road), and dense plantings along the north and west property lines. There are
also dense plantings along the southern property line (at the intersection of Airport Road). There is a large open
green space on the west end of the site, as well as smaller open green areas to the north and between the
buildings. There is an existing large garden bed in the center of the parking lot, providing shade and visual
appeal. There are also foundation garden beds along the street façades of the west building.
This project proposed to renovate the two principal structures into 20 one-bedroom apartment units. There
are no proposed changes to the building footprints or heights. There will be a reduction in the number of entry
doors on the main facades, as each two motel rooms will be combined to create one apartment unit. There will
also be some adjustments to window sizes and locations, to satisfy the Life Safety requirements. There are no
proposed changes to the driveway or parking lot. The existing parking lot provides more spaces than are
required for the residential use, so we proposed to utilize some of the existing parking lot for a dumpster
enclosure and bike racks. The only increase to the existing lot coverage is the proposed gazebo, located centrally
on the site between the buildings. This will function as a community amenity. We are proposing an interior,
secure bike storage room for tenants.
The west building provides a small office space at the southern (street facing) end. This space will be utilized
on occasion by CHT staff, however there will not be a full-time staff member on site. We are considering this
space as incidental to the main use of the buildings. This space does need to be accessible to the tenants and
meet the ADA Standards. We propose to utilize some of the excess paved area in front of the office to provide a
ADA ramp and new stair up to this office area. We are not proposing to increase the amount of paving on the
site.
Based on the size of the lot, Table C-2 allows a residential density of 15 units. The applicant proposes to
satisfy the Density bonus of up to 50% additional units as outlined in Section 18.01 of the LDR’s by making at a
minimum, 3 of the 5 additional units as affordable housing units. This approach only requires that 20% of the
allowed 15 unit density (3 units) plus 50% of the of the 5 additional units (5 x 50% = 2.5, rounded to 3 units) for a
total of 6 to be affordable units. The property will be managed by Champlain Housing Trust, with a mission to
provide safe, affordable homes.
HO HUM MOTEL CONVERSION – ZONING NARRATIVE
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(b) DEMONSTRATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE REVIEW STANDARDS
(See attached “Zoning Assessment”)
(c) LIST OF SUBMISSION ELEMENTS
- Project Narrative (this document, 2 pages)
- Zoning Assessment (11 pages)
- Traffic Generation Summary (4 pages)
- List of Abutting Property Owners (1 page)
- Completed Site Plan Review application form (4 pages)
- PDF drawing set (11 pages)
- Steep Slopes map by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (1 page)
- Wetlands, Floodways & River Corridors map by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (1 page)
(d) LIST OF ANY CHANGES MADE TO PLANS FROM PREVIOUS SUBMITTALS