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Council set to discuss Minton's project
Public comment scheduled for next week; members to vote the following Tuesday

by Daniel DeBolt

In an issue which so far has drawn intense local scrutiny, the City Council is scheduled to take public comment this Tuesday on a proposal for 214 homes on the site of Minton's Lumber and Supply. A final vote on the project is scheduled for the following Tuesday, March 30.

Though five of the council's seven members were supportive of the project in a meeting last June, one council member said recently he believes it may be a tight vote this time around.

Some neighbors have been lobbying for more a scaled-down version of the housing project, citing potential problems with traffic and parking and a change in character for the neighborhood. Controversy was hot enough to force out of office much of the leadership of the Old Mountain View Neighborhood Association, placing opponents of the project at the helm.

Last month the city's Environmental Planning Commission largely agreed with them, voting 4-1 in opposition to the project at its meeting on Feb. 10.

Prometheus Real Estate has touted numerous environmental benefits of its project — located on Evelyn Avenue across from the downtown train station — including a "Green Point rating" of 110 for its sustainable design.

The firm hopes to build 214 one- and two-bedroom apartments above an underground garage on 3.3 acres. Two buildings, split by a promenade and courtyard, are designed to look like two-story town homes with porches on Villa Street but transition to four stories at Evelyn Avenue. The latest plans for the project can be viewed at www.455westevelyn.com.

The regular session of this Tuesday's meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.