Plans for "The Foundry" advance
Posted on 10/28/2021
Architect rendering of the proposed mixed-use building at site of the former Foundry Flask.The Planning Commission (PC) has scheduled the Master Plan Update Public Hearing for its Nov. 16 meeting. At that time, neighboring communities will have completed their review period and were asked to send any comments to the PC. The goal is to adopt the Master Plan update as soon as possible but no later than December 2021, after which it will be sent to City Council for acceptance.

At the Oct. 19 meeting, the commission approved the special land use and preliminary site plan, with conditions, for 456 E. Cady (Foundry Flask site). This came after a public hearing on the special land use for upper-floor residential. Jim Long represented the developer. Plans call for removing the dilapidated buildings on the property and constructing a 3-story, mixed-use building with commercial uses, including a grocery/market of nearly 12,000 ft2 on the first floor, oriented toward Cady and S. Main streets. The majority of the building will contain 79 residential units of one, two or three bedrooms; seven will be on the first floor and 72 will be on the upper two floors.

The PC called for the following conditions:

• Fewer street trees will be required along E. Cady to allow for on-street parking spaces.

• Retaining existing trees along S. Main will count toward the same number of new trees to be planted. (The current status meets the street tree requirement along this frontage.)

• The developer needs to work with two city departments on matters that involve their expertise.
– work with the DPW director and city engineer consultants to determine the location of the westerly drive and proposed utilities
– confer with the fire chief to evaluate the vehicular access and circulation of emergency vehicles.

When the final site plan is presented, PC requests that the applicant provide information on lighting and landscaping, brownfield conditions, and a tree survey addressing the removal of any protected trees (per the tree preservation ordinance). In addition, the applicant must obtain approval from the Historic District Commission (HDC) and discuss a possible river walk easement with the city.