- November 27, 2024
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A battle over the future of the downtown may begin at the Dec. 8 Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. in City Commission chambers at City Hall, 22 S. Beach St.
The board is set to review a proposal to remove the two-story height limit along New Britain Avenue from North Beach Street to North Ridgewood Avenue. The Planning Board is an advisory board for the City Commission, which will make the final decision. The City Commission is set to consider the height-change request in two readings, Jan. 17 and Feb. 7.
Proponents say higher density of population downtown would be “smart growth” while residents of the nearby historic district say it would disrupt the character of the neighborhood.
If the limit is removed, the area would have the same five-story limit as the rest of what the city calls the River District, an area 300 feet north and south of Granada Boulevard from the Halifax River to U.S. 1.
Recent improvements made in the River District include storm water improvement at 64 Lincoln Avenue (along with a park.) At a Quality of Life meeting earlier this year, city staff said the storm water improvement would encourage development of New Britain Avenue.
Requesting the height change is Glenn Storch, an attorney who often represents developers. His proposal includes a market analysis showing why the height change is needed for potential developments.
The agenda for the Planning Board meeting only refers to “the applicant” as the developer. However, a neighborhood meeting to discuss a potential multi-story building was held in July by Highlander Corp. and Wivigeco LLC, which are owned by Bill Jones, who has refurbished many of the properties along West Granada Boulevard.
The buildings would be mixed use, which means both residential and commercial. For example, there may be commercial on the bottom floor and residences above.
The proposals contains a letter from Ormond MainStreet showing it supports the height limit change, saying it would fit with their vision of increased living space in the downtown.
Proponents of a mixed-use development in the downtown say it would allow residents to work and live in the downtown, avoiding urban sprawl.
Dwight Selby, new city commissioner, has said many people are now seeking to live within walking distance of restaurants, including both millennials and those in their retirement years.
At the neighborhood meeting, Lincoln Avenue residents were concerned about a tall building negatively impacting their homes. In response, representatives of the developer said any buildings with the increased height would have a setback equivalent to the height of the building. Also, on the Lincoln Avenue side, the building would have a 10-foot landscape buffer and a decorative six-foot wall.
“We do not support five-story structures in the Downtown Overlay District or anywhere on West Granada.”
ELLEN AND JONATHAN NEEDHAM, nearby residents
Ellen and Jonathan Needham, who live on Lincoln Avenue, were at the neighborhood meeting. They said in an email that a five-story building would “tower over all of the properties in the downtown area.”
They said the current regulations are in place to protect the Historic District from Developers trying to construct buildings not conforming to the established character of the neighborhood.
“We do not support five-story structures in the Downtown Overlay District or anywhere on West Granada,” they said.
Ellen Needham said they were also bothered by the fact that the Planning Board Meeting on Dec. 8 was only advertised once in the local daily newspaper, and they talked to neighbors who didn’t know about it.
The Planning Board has the option of approving the height-increase request, denying it, or approving a height less than five stories.
