BY SHELLEY NELSON
SUPERIOR DAILY TELEGRAM
The site of the former Central school in Superior could soon be a campus of a different sort.
Grand Central Development LLC, a subsidiary of RJS Construction, is making plans for an office and retail complex on the nearly four-acre plot in the 1000 block of Belknap Street.
The company has narrowed its options to three possible designs, all creating retail space, offices and a restaurant on Belknap Street. Two plans call for office buildings adjacent to Grand and Weeks avenues. The third creates office buildings along Weeks and ponds near Grand Avenue, according to conceptual drawings by LHB Architects and Engineers. It includes parking, paths and green space.
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"What you get from the schemes is the flavor of what we're trying to achieve here," said Mike Murray, executive vice president of RJS. He said the goal is to create a commercial village with a variety of different size, shapes and height buildings, green space, pathways and parking throughout.
Todd Koneczny, project manager for RJS, said the company has looked at drainage issues to address stormwater management and "maintaining a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere."
The company presented the plans to the city's Plan Commission on Wednesday. The company seeks a zoning change to create a planned development district. The site is zoned apartment residential.
The planned development district allows the company a little more flexibility and the city a little more control than just rezoning the site for commercial development, said Port and Planning Director Jason Serck.
Each plan outlines more than 190 parking spaces, with 50 more on the street, accommodating the 220 spaces required, according to draft plans.
Adjacent residential property would be buffered. Zoning requires 15 feet and a physical buffer between the project site and residential property. Those requirements wouldn't be waived, Serck said. Plans account for the requirement.
The plan commission set a public hearing for July 17 before considering the zoning change.
RJS Construction purchased the former school site in Superior's Business Improvement District last year for $650,000. What the development project will cost hasn't been determined yet, but Murray said it would be a "sizable" investment.
