Downtown Design Review Board - September 10, 2026

The City of Salina's Downtown Design Review Board held a meeting on September 10, 2026, primarily to review a certificate of compatibility application for parking lot improvements serving Lee Loft Partners and City Plumbing Co Inc. The proposal involved combining two parking areas into a shared lot with 70 spaces, including removal of an existing landscape buffer along North 5th Street. Staff recommended approval with conditions, notably requiring a replacement landscape buffer to maintain streetscape compatibility. After discussion, the board approved the project with the condition related to major changes but declined the landscape buffer requirement, citing concerns about parking space loss and consistency with the block's character. The meeting also included administrative business, electing Jessica Herman as chair and Julie Cates as vice chair for one-year terms.