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Board approves design and site plan recommendation for 96‑unit senior affordable building on South Dixie Highway
Summary
Planning board recommended the design and site plan for an eight‑story, 96‑unit senior housing building at 826 South Dixie Highway that will be age‑restricted to 62 and older and limited to 60% AMI; the board and applicant discussed parking garage screening and traffic but approved the recommendation to the city commission.
The Planning and Development Board voted to recommend city commission approval of the design and site plan for a proposed eight‑story, 96‑unit senior housing building at 826 South Dixie Highway. The project, located in a DH‑3 zoning district in the regional activity center, is intended to be age‑restricted to residents 62 and older and to serve households with incomes at or below 60% of area median income, the applicant said.
Planner Umar Javed presented the staff analysis and described the proposal as an eight‑story building approximately 95 feet tall with about 8,800 square feet of open space, 116 parking spaces and nine bicycle spaces. Javed noted the applicant proposes active ground‑floor uses along South Dixie Highway that exceed the DH‑3 minimum active use requirement (the project proposes 67% active frontage vs. a 60% minimum).
Applicant details: Liz Summerstein, representing HTG Paramount Limited, told the board the development will be restricted to persons aged 62 and older and will cap affordability at 60% AMI. Summerstein said the project includes seven units designed for residents with physical, visual or hearing impairments (five for physical impairments; two for visual or hearing impairments) and that the parking program is self‑parked and exceeds minimum code requirements.
Design and operational issues: Board members asked whether parking garage decorative screening would include a solid backing to prevent night‑time visibility through the screen; one board member said earlier conversations had suggested a backed screen might be used. Summerstein said the project uses mesh screening and that adding a backing would interfere with required garage ventilation. Engineering and planning staff will evaluate details at permit review.
Vote and next steps: The board recommended approval of design and then approved the site plan recommendation to the city commission by voice vote. The recommendation will go to the city commission for final action; any building permits will be subject to later technical and permitting review, including detailed ventilation and structural reviews for the parking garage and building systems.
Context: Board members praised the project location and the developer’s prior work in the city; members noted the proposal responds to a demand for affordable senior housing in the downtown corridor. Staff emphasized that subsequent engineering, permitting and building review will address technical details not resolved in this design‑level review.
Ending: The recommendation advances the HTG Paramount senior affordable project to the city commission; staff and the applicant will continue to work on technical details ahead of permit review.
