Conceptual image of future development in the former Meri Mac shopping center. Courtesy Columbus Capital
Conceptual images of the residential units and parking garage being proposed. Courtesy Columbus Capital
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Los Alamos County Planning & Zoning Commission is slated to hold a hybrid public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers for an application submitted by Greg Gonzales, doing business as Columbus Capital on behalf of Seth Brennoch of the Kroger Co., current owners of the property in downtown Los Alamos.
Gonzales is seeking Site Plan approval for a 104,671 sq.ft. of mixed-use development that proposes 322 residential units and 22,000 sq.ft. of commercial space. The site is .7 acres and has 107,207 sq.ft. of existing structures, most of which are vacant or partially vacant. Columbus Capital previously received approval for a special use permit to operate a self-storage facility in the former Smith’s supermarket and has been conducting asbestos abatement in that building with Kroger’s permission.
The proposed site plan includes an eight-story building with retail businesses on the ground floor, a parking garage on the first three floors and residential units on the top five. Access from Central Avenue at 9th Street and secondary access along the east side is being proposed.
The application includes a Traffic Impact Analysis conducted by Bohannon Huston. Recommendations include:
*Extend the eastbound left turning storage length to 175 feet and modify the median to eliminate the left turning lane for the access point west of the intersection of Trinity Drive and 7th Street.
*At the intersection of Central Avenue and 9th Street/ proposed access, the parking structure should be set back at least 10 feet from the sidewalk or be constructed to not block visibility for an exiting vehicle.
*Implement a leading pedestrian interval for the north/south crosswalks at the intersection of Trinity Drive and 7th Avenue. This should be coordinated with Los Alamos County staff to implement this timing change.
*Build access points along Central at the existing intersection of 9th Street and Central Avenue and between Iris Street and 6thStreet. These access points shall maximize sight distance for exiting vehicles.
*Remove existing access point on Central between 9th Street and Iris Street, and the existing access point between Iris Street and 6th Street. The existing access point east of 6th Street will remain since no development activity is occurring at this existing building.
*All designs shall satisfy the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Los Alamos County requirements
Proposed Site Plan to be discussed at Wednesday’s hybrid Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. Courtesy Columbus Capital