By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council met on Monday and approved a site plan application from Brian Ridge of Commercial Edge for a proposed 3-story, mixed-use building on a 3-acre site on Coal Mine Loop at Gateway Commercial Park.

The building will include basement parking, first floor commercial space, and second/third floor apartments. The lower level includes 40 parking stalls and elevator access to the floors above, and 40% of its space will be used for offices, with the rest remaining vacant with the potential to accommodate up to 3 tenants. The two upper levels will feature thirty-one (31) apartments, which will be a mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units, most with balconies. 

Exterior building colors and materials have not been finalized but are expected to include stone veneer and fiber cement siding. To meet sidewalk requirements, a trail extension will be added along Coal Mine Loop.

The approval comes after the city passed a zoning ordinance amending their zoning code to accommodate the development: the city changed the “Downtown Residential” land use type to “Mixed Use Residential.”

No timeline was given for the project on Monday.