Ordinance 2427-2020 returns to the Commission for completion of First Reading. On March 9, 2020 the applicant asked that the item be continued to tonight's meeting to allow more time to work on traffic concerns and buffers for the project. Since then, the applicant has submitted a revised site plan with revisions including the most northern building having been reduced from four stories to three stories resulting in a reduction from 280 to 270 units, a lake with irregular shape and littoral plantings and the elimination of the Harrison Street access/connection and replaced with the addition of a U.S. Highway 1 connection which will allow residents to access the unused U-turn on U.S.1. As a result of eliminating the entry roadway connection to Harrison Street, 16 slash pines that would have been removed are now preserved. It should also be noted that the applicant is providing 344.5 more inches of trees in the preserve than required for mitigation. See Traffic access change Letter attached.
On February 24, 2020, the City Commission heard evidence from the applicant and intervenor. After closing the hearing at the conclusion of the presentations and during deliberation, the Commission unanimously approved Commissioner Matheson's Motion to Table which was treated as a Motion to Continue the matter to March 9, 2020. Commissioner Matheson asked the applicant to consider reducing the number of units by 10; redesign the lake to an irregular shape; work with the surrounding neighborhoods regarding the sidewalks, lighting and height of the buildings as well as meet with the County for traffic calming ideas. Discussion also included looking at options for reducing building stories to 3 from 4 for one or more of the proposed buildings on the north and west of the site.
The vacant subject property is approximately 13.59 acres and consists of three parcels, located west of SE Federal Highway in an urban area on the south eastern edge of jurisdictional limits of the City of Stuart. The applicant is proposing to construct 280 multi-family garden-style residential units consisting of seven 4 story garden-style apartment buildings all with elevators. For additional details and code reviews see attached staff report.
The property is comprised of both uplands and wetlands. The wetland has been qualified as a very low quality system which the South Florida Water Management Department requires no mitigation. The northern portion of the property contains pine flatwood forest which will be mostly retained as preserve. A lake at the development's center will have littoral planting at it's perimeter then transitioning onto it's bank with native trees.
During First Reading, the applicant responded to each of the eleven conditions raised by the LPA including the addition of improved lighting, signage, landscape, a 6 foot wide sidewalk along Springtree Place and enhanced entry.
The proposed project consist of seven (7) four-story apartment buildings. In addition to the apartment buildings, there will be amenities such as a clubhouse, pool, dog park and car wash. The apartment access will be privately gated with two access points, one of from S.E. Springtree an existing open private road and from S.E. Harrison Street a Martin County maintained road to the north. The residents will also have opportunity to rent a garage for an automobile if desired.
The property is bounded to the south by the Natilie Mobile Home Park which is in unincorporated Martin County. To the north is Coral Gardens single family and an Exon gas station with convenience store, also in Martin County. To the east is vacant land with a CPUD zoning and is within the City of Stuart. The main access to the property will be from Springtree, which has capacity for the additional trips related to the proposed development.