The City Council has 60 days from the April 16th meeting to vote on Edgewater's Special Use Permit
The People's Committee on Development does not support Edgewater's application for a special use permit. Here's why:
- The size and scope of the development is not in harmony with the single-family homes and townhouses adjacent to it.
- The nature and height of Edgewater will hinder and discourage the appropriate use of the adjacent zones – single-family homes and townhouses. Who will want to build a new home with Edgewater out their window?
- By approving a special use permit for Edgewater, it will be easier for future developments to argue that their apartment buildings are in keeping with the adjacent lots. The country club and other nearby properties, if re-developed, will certainly become apartment buildings too.
- The developer is arguing that 7 apartment buildings has a lower environmental impact than 9, that the buildings will have a smaller footprint. But the developer doesn’t have to build 300+ units. The environmental impact is certainly worse than single-family homes. And imagine the impact when Edgewater sets off a wave of new apartment buildings along the river!
- Special use permits were supposed to incentivize development during an economic downturn. We don’t have to make such incentives while Beacon is a hot commodity and the good economy means there is so much investment money in real estate.
- The nature and height of Edgewater will hinder and discourage the appropriate use of the adjacent zones – single-family homes and townhouses. Who will want to build a new home with Edgewater out their window?
- By approving a special use permit for Edgewater, it will be easier for future developments to argue that their apartment buildings are in keeping with the adjacent lots. The country club and other nearby properties, if re-developed, will certainly become apartment buildings too.
- The developer is arguing that 7 apartment buildings has a lower environmental impact than 9, that the buildings will have a smaller footprint. But the developer doesn’t have to build 300+ units. The environmental impact is certainly worse than single-family homes. And imagine the impact when Edgewater sets off a wave of new apartment buildings along the river!
- Special use permits were supposed to incentivize development during an economic downturn. We don’t have to make such incentives while Beacon is a hot commodity and the good economy means there is so much investment money in real estate.
The Council is weighing whether the Edgewater project meets four specific criteria in order to receive a special use permit which are:
- The location and size of the use, the nature and intensity of the operations involved in or conducted in connection with it, the size of the site in relation to it and the location of the site with respect to streets giving access to it are such that it will be in harmony with the appropriate and orderly development of the district in which it is located.
- The location, nature and height of buildings, walls and fences and the nature and extent of the landscaping on the site are such that the use will not hinder or discourage the appropriate development use of adjacent land and buildings.
- Operations in connection with any special use will not be more objectionable to nearby properties by reason of noise, fumes, vibration or other characteristic than would be the operations of any permitted use, not requiring a special permit.
- Parking areas will be of adequate size for the particular use and properly located and suitably screened from adjoining residential uses, and the entrance and exit drives shall be laid out so as to achieve maximum safety.
Did You Know
|
Upcoming Developments
|
