The property owner of the old Kuchera Building located at 908 Broadwater Avenue, near 9th Street West and Broadwater Avenue, is requesting a variance from Section 6-1203(j) of the city code for the number of parking stalls required for a retail business.  The property owner is proposing to remodel the existing building into a Billings Hardware store.  Unlike the Billings Hardware on Grand Avenue, this hardware store will not have lawn and garden equipment and is being proposed as a neighborhood hardware store.  The site currently has 19 parking stalls but will have to be redesigned as angle parking to allow traffic flow.  The redesign will only allow 17 parking stalls with 8 of those stalls are in the Broadwater Avenue arterial set back.  The owner will submit a site plan showing the angle parking for approval through the building permit process.  The hardware store owner has submitted sales and traffic data for their existing store showing that 17 parking stalls would be sufficient for this proposed store.  Under the city code, this business would be required to have 33 parking stalls installed at this site.  Taking into account the traffic flow and sales data from the existing store, Engineering is recommending approval of this variance.  If approved, this variance would only be for the proposed hardware store.  Any other use would need further evaluation. 

The Council may:

• Approve the variance allowing a hardware store to be constructed in the existing building at 9th Street West and Broadwater Avenue, or
• Do not approve the variance.  The property owner would then have to find additional parking for this use or change the proposed use of the building to reduce the amount of parking required.

There is no significant financial impact to the City for this variance.

Staff recommends council approve a parking variance for the property at 908 Broadwater Ave.