History
This Multi-Family project was unanimously approved by the Local Planning Agency at it's regularly scheduled meeting on April 8, 2021 supporting staff's recommendation to continue the privacy wall with mature landscaping on the south parcel for a visual barrier separation from the abutting chiropractor office and residences. A centrally located mail kiosk and multiple bike rack have also been added at the project's cabana/pool area. The developer has agreed to provide designated Electrical Vehicle charging outlets at each of the unit’s garages. The engineer of record has addressed review comments including the relocation of exfiltration trenches out of the planter/retention area along the southern property line.
Summary
The application proposes a rezoning of property from R-3 (Residential Multi-Family/Duplex) to Residential Planned Unit Development (RPUD). The proposed amendment is to allow for the construction of 13 multifamily units on .97 acres. The property is bounded to the east by commercial plaza (B-2 Publix), to the North by multi-family apartments (R-3), to the west by single family and water retention area (R-1) and to the south by an office. (R-3)
The proposed project consists of two (2) two-story town home buildings divided by an existing right of way (an 11' unimproved alleyway), which serves as a main entrance to the PUD from Palm City Road. There is an secondary ingress/egress at Halpatiokee Street. A community pool and cabana is centrally located, with green-space lined with native trees and sidewalks along the frontage of Palm City Road. Additionally, the applicant is proposing six (6) on-street parking spaces along Halpatiokee Street.
The applicant is asking to depart from the to the City's Land Development Code which may be offset by providing other aspects of the project which exceed code requirements and or are amenities of value to the community. The departure is as follows:
1. Policy A7.2 Table of Land Use Densities and intensities. The code allows up to 11.62 dwelling units per acre by right for the Office/Residential Land Use Category and up to 30 DU/acre with City Commission approval. The applicant is proposing 13.1 DU/acre.
2. Section 6.04.06 Land Use Transitions and Landscape Buffers. The code requires a 8.75 foot landscape buffer with a 35 foot buffer area without a structure bordering single family residences. The applicant is providing a 55.76 foot separation between the town home building and the adjacent residential property along Halpatiokee Street. However, the landscaped area is less than 5 feet wide between accessory structures and paving. The applicant provides 13 Eagleston Hollies and a hedge of Small Leaf Clusia as compensation for the reduced landscaped buffer. Along the more southern building, the applicant is proposing an 8' separation between the building and the adjacent R-1 property. However, this property is an existing plated storm water retention area. Nevertheless, a waiver to the code is required to R-1 zoned property, which is from the 35' buffer distance and the reduction of the landscaped zone to a a 6 foot tall wall and Sabal Palms.
See attachment - B1. Staff review - for the full Residential PUD review