The Planning Board voted Tuesday night to recommend approval of two zoning ordinance modifications for the city.
The first modification concerns the Naval Hospital Residential and Commercial Districts, commonly referred to as the Admiral’s Hill section.
During the 1980s, the city relaxed numerous building and zoning rules in this district to spur development, according to Lad Dell, who serves as the city’s planning and land use administrator.
“People were able to develop without much regulation at all,” Dell noted.
City Manager Thomas Ambrosino recently extended a construction moratorium in the district through year’s end as municipal officials developed updated regulations.
The Planning Board’s recommended ordinance would permit four- to six-unit structures to be built as of right, with a special permit needed for projects exceeding six units.
The original ordinance presented to the Planning Board specified maximum heights of 2 ½ stories and 35 feet. The board modified this to permit heights up to 40 feet.
“I would suggest that we add the half a story and a little height to allow for garages,” explained John DePriest, the city’s planning director.
City Councillor Roy Avellaneda noted that the height increase aligned with recommendations from a Council subcommittee studying the ordinance, which sought to facilitate garage construction.
Public hearing attendees who commented on the zoning amendment expressed support for the changes.
“It looks like this is an effort to protect the character of the neighborhood and not overload our streets,” Christine Shields stated.
The second zoning modification would enable first-floor residential units in the Retail Business District through special permit, provided they are not located on Broadway.
Two years prior, a zoning amendment prohibited first-floor residential units along the Broadway corridor. Should the City Council approve this new amendment, Broadway itself would retain the ban, though other nearby streets in the district could accommodate residential units on the first floor under special permit.
The developers behind the 1 Forbes Street project chose to withdraw their proposal during Tuesday’s session.
However, Paul Feldman, representing the developer of this 630-unit residential and office building initiative, characterized the withdrawal as a procedural step rather than a setback, allowing additional time for a comprehensive presentation to the full Planning Board.
“The public hearing on this was opened on Sept. 22, and at that time, there were a couple of vacancies on the board and a member who was not present,” Feldman stated. “With a nine member board, to get site approval, we need six votes.”
According to Feldman, the developers are resubmitting the site plan immediately after withdrawal to restart the hearing timeline. He anticipates the project will return before the Planning Board on December 18.
“We would like the participation of all nine members, or all that can attend,” Feldman added.
The board also granted a special permit Tuesday for a 16-seat Peruvian bistro restaurant at 22 Adams Street, the location of a former liquor store.