Lee Park II continues the trend in the T-Zone for luxury townhomes. This project has to accommodate a restrictive covenant and serious stormwater issues. Staff is showing some strain accommodating the new approval process.
At their August meeting, HARB received a proposal to build an 8-unit apartment building adjoining a historic property, taking advantage of the new T-Zone ordinance.
After approving Lee Park Townhomes, the Planning Commission reflected on the results of the new T-Zone code – expensive and dense housing, little tree canopy onsite, consideration for inadequate stormwater drains.
The Lee Park Townhomes’ first review at the Planning Commission meeting. Positive design reviews were mixed with worries about the inadequacies of the storm drains and sewers for denser development and lack of affordable housing.
Approved: OakPark Townhomes is the first to take advantage of the new T-Zone proposal, with the maximum density and size allowed. Expected price is around $1m.
City staff and Council members perform a candid and revealing postmortem to glean T-Zone lessons for handling future zoning changes.
The new T-Zone code opens the door for 4 historic properties to be developed. The O’Bannon House owner has begun to explore building townhomes there.
Council voted to pass the new T-Zone code despite opposition from hundreds of citizens, including current and former mayors and planning commissioners.
An overview of the T-Zone proposal to allow greater density development, and why residents have reacted so strongly to it.
