WMG Volume 7 • Issue 21 October 29, 2020
Wilton Manors Gazette FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE
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Wilton Manors Stakeholders Discuss Height and Density Regulations By John McDonald Community development firm Calvin, Height and density regulations in Giordano & Associates put together an Wilton Manors attract a lot of interest. A broad group of city officials, urban form and density report, which contractors, land use attorneys, realtors, planning consultant James Hickey investors, and developers participated summarized during the meeting. The in an Oct. 15 virtual road table meeting report examined ways the city could appropriately increase to discuss how to build density. and design in the Island HICKEY SAID In mixed-use areas, City. Roberta Moore, the report recommends director of the Community PLANNERS HAD increasing density from Development Services HEARD “LOUD AND the current 25 units to Department, moderated 75 units per gross acre. the meeting. CLEAR” FROM THE Hickey said planners had “Wilton Manors is at a COMMUNITY THAT heard “loud and clear” major turning point for its from the community that future,” said Commissioner ADDITIONAL DENSITY additional density would Paul Rolli, noting two new WOULD RESULT IN A result in a deterioration commissioners and a new DETERIORATION OF of the city’s single-family mayor would soon take residential district. office. The round table, THE CITY’S SINGLELandscaping and masonry Rolli said, was important FAMILY RESIDENTIAL walls are possible for stakeholders to make buffering solutions to informed decisions on DISTRICT. noise and screening a path toward future complaints, Hickey said. sustainability while Height limits are set at six stories keeping intact the city’s small-town feel with the possibility of adding two more and friendliness. The discussion centered around how stories if certain caveats are met. Those height and density regulations impacting caveats include building frontage, street the transit corridors of Andrews Ave., activation, open space dedication, Dixie Hwy., NE 26th St., Wilton Dr. and enhanced landscaping and LEED Gold or equivalent certification. Height limits in Oakland Park Blvd.
Wilton Drive earlier this year. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
the city’s western boundaries are proposed for four stories with the possibility of adding another level. Adding affordable housing units and reducing retail percentages and parking space requirements in development projects were also brought up by stakeholders. “In this day and age, retail continues to die,” said Peter LaPointe, president of Grass River Property which owns the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. Larry Baum, managing partner at Stellar
Communities, echoed LaPointe’s remarks. “It’s not easy to lease commercial in Wilton Manors,” Baum said. “What we need is residential — more rooftops.” Moore said Wilton Manors’ code requires builders to pay into an affordable housing trust fund in the form of impact fees to obtain proper permitting. For comparison, Robert Lochrie, a land use attorney, said successful affordable housing projects in Fort Lauderdale, usually start at 140 units per acre. WMG
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