Onyx Partners seeks variance for Steeplegate redevelopment in Concord

The Concord Zoning Board meeting on February 5, 2025, focused on a significant request for a variance from Onyx Partners Limited concerning two properties in the Gateway Performance District. The properties in question are located at 277 Sheep Davis Road, currently home to a TD Bank, and 260 Loudoun Road, where an Applebee's restaurant operates. The variance seeks to allow the calculation of lot frontage to be derived from two streets, contrary to the existing ordinance that requires a continuous unbroken line of frontage along one street.

Emily Gehring, representing Onyx Partners, explained that the request is part of a broader redevelopment plan for the Steeplegate area. The goal is to dissolve the existing land condominium structure and create three separate lots under independent ownership. This request had previously been presented in May 2024 but was withdrawn due to disputes among condominium owners. However, those issues have since been resolved, allowing the current proposal to move forward.

The variance is necessary because the current ordinance mandates a minimum of 300 feet of continuous frontage along one street. Gehring noted that while the properties have adequate total frontage, the configuration requires relief due to the unique layout of the lots, which are situated at corners. The TD Bank lot has 305 linear feet of proposed frontage, while the Applebee's lot has 473 linear feet, but both need the variance to comply with the ordinance's strict interpretation.

Board members raised questions about the implications of the variance, including the adequacy of parking for both businesses and the rationale behind the ordinance's requirement for continuous frontage. Gehring assured the board that both businesses meet parking requirements and emphasized the public interest in revitalizing the area through this redevelopment.

The board's discussion highlighted the importance of the variance in facilitating the subdivision of the properties, which is a crucial step toward the overall redevelopment of the Steeplegate area. The meeting concluded with a consensus on the necessity of the variance to support the ongoing revitalization efforts in the district.