The dot Amended PUD Approved by Council

At a regular meeting of Ferndale City Council on Feb. 13, 2023, Council approved a site plan and an Amended Planned Unit Development for 221 W. Troy St., otherwise known as the residential component of The dot. The proposal consists of a 70-foot, five-floor, mixed-use structure with approximately 1,500 square feet of ground floor leasable space and 18 residential units above.

City staff first began the formal process of reviewing the municipal parking lot at the corner of W. Troy St. and Allen St., now known as The dot, in 2017. The following is a brief recounting of the process:

• August 2, 2017: Planning Commission holds a preliminary PUD discussion and Public Hearing.
• September 20, 2017: Planning Commission gives a formal recommendation for approval.
• October 23, 2017: City Council holds an additional Public Hearing and approves the project.
• ‍May 16, 2018: The City and the developer create a revised PUD design in early 2018; Planning Commission holds a preliminary discussion and Public Hearing.
• June 6, 2018: Planning Commission recommends approval of revised PUD.
• June 25, 2018: City Council approves the project.

The June 2018 approval contained the PUD Agreement and Site Plan information for The dot that exists today, and also set the stage for the rooftop office component and the residential component. While the PUD created the "outline" of the project, both the office and residential components were required to return to the Planning Commission for final site plan approval. The office component received site plan approval on December 18, 2019, but has not yet been constructed.

The residential component design is largely in keeping with the PUD framework of 2018, with three proposed waivers:

1. A 5-foot extension of the building into the west and north property lines for the second, third, and fourth floors, starting at 17 feet above the finished first floor.
2. A canopy extension 10' 6.5" into the north property line at 6' 7.5" into the west property line, starting 17' above the finished first floor.
3. A Juliet balcony extension 7' into the west and north property lines on the second, third, and fourth floors.

The Planning Commission conditionally approved this plan at their February 7, 2023 meeting.

City Council heard from two residents and directed City Manager Joseph Gacioch and Planning Manager Kyle Brice to answer questions about housing affordability and future use of the outdoor common areas as special events space. Gacioch said that the housing component will be a minimum of 25% affordable with a hope of achieving 100% affordability, as defined by the City'sCommunity Affordability & Inclusive Housing Plan. Brice confirmed that special events will continue in the outdoor space per contract with the developer.

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