EXPLANATION OF REQUEST: The subject property covers most of the land within the Riverwalk Plaza shopping center, which contains the Wendy’s Restaurant, Wells Fargo Bank, a multitenant building with Walgreens and Joann’s Fabrics, the Prime Catch Restaurant and a large vacant “big box” formerly occupied by Winn Dixie.
The Major Site Plan Modification proposes the development of a mixed use project with 326 apartments and 51,220 square feet of commercial space including the Wendy’s restaurant and a 41,970 sq. ft. multitenant building, but excludes the properties occupied by the Wells Fargo Bank and Prime Catch restaurant.
The largest component of the development is a new residential structure located on the eastern portion of the site, adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway. The building would contain two floors of parking, a small waterfront commercial space and eight floors of residential units totaling 697,347 sq. ft. with a first floor footprint of 131,492 sq. ft. The proposed commercial space frames the urban plaza proposed at the northeast corner of the building. This plaza acts as the entry point to the public waterfront promenade.
A new 4,666 sq. ft. commercial building is proposed to front South Federal Highway which would provide a more urban streetscape and screen the corridor from an abutting parking lot. The building creates public active areas on both the north and south sides of the structure. These areas are directly accessible to pedestrians from the sidewalk and parking to the rear. There are shade structures throughout. There is an existing commercial building on the south-west portion of the site. As a part of this project, the existing drive-thru which is currently visible from South Federal Highway will be concealed with the addition of a porte cochere. This proposal will also allow for additional building frontage along Federal Highway in compliance with the build-to-line provisions of the Land Development Regulations. The building will also be renovated to be architecturally consistent with the new buildings.
An integral component of mixed use developments are the public amenities they often provide. The proposed site plan contains several public areas including the creation of a waterfront promenade along the Intracoastal Waterway, an urban plaza at the entry point of the promenade, two small urban plazas fronting South Federal Highway, and the use of art throughout the site which helps define the public path leading from the right-of-way to the waterfront promenade. Staff supports the request subject to compliance with the remaining conditions of approval, and approval of all corresponding applications.
The Land Use and Rezoning application (LUAR 16-003), Height Exception application (HTEX 16-002) and a Community Design Plan Appeal application (CDPA 16-002) are being processed concurrently.
The Planning & Development Board reviewed this request at their December 27th meeting and forwards it with a recommendation for approval.